Cover by Ernie Chan (as Ernie Chua)

Title: “Trial by Fear”
Synopsis: An effort to cure “bloodlust fever” sends Kamandi deep into a flashback about his younger years living with Granddad.

Writer: Elliot S. Maggin
Penciler: Dick Ayers
Inkers: Ernie Chan (as Ernie Chua) and Alfredo Alcala

Review: Jack Kirby’s shadow always looms large over Kamandi, but the creative team of Elliot S. Maggin and Dick Ayers deliver a surprisingly strong tale here. Not everything works – even the King would have had a hard time making the cat-(umm, rat?)-(maybe wolf?)-lobster creature seem like a good idea. But this coming of age tale makes the world of the Great Disaster feel real and relentlessly harsh. Maggin also delivers some nice character moments between Kamandi and his grandfather, including a particularly poignant epilogue. As for the art, Ayers work is certainly serviceable under the inks of Ernie Chan and Alfredo Alcala.

Grade: B

Cool factor: This tale of Kamandi’s first journey into the outside world is pretty dang harsh. Fitting for a post-apocalyptic world, no?

Character quotable: “Granddad didn’t warn me about nightmares like you …” – Kamandi, last boy on Earth, during his first outing. (You ain’t seen nothing yet, kid!)

Copyright ©2018 Off the Wahl Productions, all rights reserved. Each week, T. Andrew Wahl offers up a Bronze Age Minute. For more, check out Wahl’s website, SequentialReaction.com.