Good afternoon,
Today's topic is the thirty-first issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover, illustrated by regular series cover artist Keith Pollard, depicted a red-haired man smiling as he watched Indy fall from a cliffside. The tale was titled "Big Game." The issue had a cover date of September 1985.
The story began on a plane flying near the coast of Washington State. Indiana was concerned about the pilot Smitty's attentiveness (not to be confused with the German pilot Schmidt, aka "Smitty," from issues 4 and 5), but was assured that things would be fine. However, a downdraft soon forced them to make a rough landing.
Jones removed the unconscious pilot from the vehicle afterward, and soon collapsed himself. The pair was found by a couple driving a Jeep. The woman offered assistance, which Indiana gladly accepted. As her companion drove, she explained they'd been looking for Bigfoot. Jones scoffed at the revelation, but changed his tone when he realized that his host was "Congo Kate" Crawford.
Kate knew of Indiana's reputation as well, and confessed that she was in the area because of reports of recent Bigfoot sightings. Those reports were supported by her driver/guide, Robert Thundercloud. The trio stopped at a hotel in Canyon Creek that evening. Kate asked Indy if he wanted to join her expedition, but he replied that he'd rather go home. Their conversation was interrupted by local officials, who were concerned about Kate's disruptions.
While Crawford was trying to calm the townspeople, Jones followed Thundercloud to the bar. He tried to have a friendly conversation, but ended up participating in a fight that was started by a few patrons. A shot fired into the air from Kate's pistol ended the confrontation. Indy went to bed that evening questioning her guide's motives.
The two parties made their separate ways the next morning. Thundercloud and Crawford were about to drive off, but were soon approached by more townspeople. The bartender that Robert had quarreled with last night had been found dead, and the American Indian was perceived to be a prime suspect.
Thundercloud drove off after town mayor Clayton Dunn and others made their accusations. Jones and Crawford followed on foot, careful not to cross paths with the angry townspeople. Robert finally made it to a cabin in the woods, where he found a multi-tailed whip that might have been used by the person responsible for the citizens' deaths.
Indy and Karen were roused by the sound of gunfire, but eventually separated. Jones later heard the mayor plotting something that sounded rather sinister. Meanwhile, Thundercloud was engaged in a fight with one of the locals, that spilled outside of the cabin and ended when Indiana stepped in. Richard wasn't about to let anyone interfere, and knocked the professor out before moving on.
By then, Karen had reached the shore and spotted a submarine in the water that had Japanese markings. She had inadvertently witnessed part of the mayor's plan, as she learned when Dunn arrived. He and his associate then fought Thundercloud, and during the fracas, Crawford was knocked from the cliff.
Jones came to the rescue moments later. He had reason to be wary of both Thundercloud and Dunn. The mayor disclosed his alliance with the Japanese government before flailing at the professor with the multi-braided whip. Richard stepped in once more to defeat the mayor.
He then explained that the cabin he'd visited belonged to Sheriff Hyatt, the man he'd fought earlier that evening, Thundercloud was an FBI man, and his partner was the bartender from town. The bar brawl had been staged as a way to convey to Richard that the sub was coming. The Bigfoot rumors were intended to keep the townspeople away from the shore, so that they wouldn't see the sub's arrival. Its lights were the same ones that Indiana's pilot Smitty saw during their approach.
Hyatt also used the monster hoax to cover up his murders of the people who'd intervened. Richard served as Kate's guide to get closer to the truth. Just then, Kate returned. She'd been thrown from the cliff, but said that something had lifted her up. Her story brought more credence to the Bigfoot rumors.
The next morning, Indiana bid Richard farewell. The authorities were aware of the Japanese sub, and it was time for Jones to return home. Kate joined him on the plane, noting that she'd wanted ro visit Africa, but fist she was interested in seeing the Natural Museum. She heard there was a handsome archaeologist who worked there.
This wasn't your typical Indiana Jones tale. There were no historical artifacts to find, just a mythological creature that may or may not be real. Karen was a possible love interest, but sadly this title would only see three more issues, and she never appeared in this series again.
That's it for this article. Tomorrow, I'll cover the thirty-second issue of this title. It's the beginning of a three part story arc that shows us what happened when Professor Jones returned home and was introduced to a special guest who had her eye on one of the museum's prize possessions. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.
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