This post is brought to you by the Swords of Fire series which includes Volumes 1, 2 and 3 (with #4 coming out later this year). This series was created to feature S&S novellas of at least 15,000 words. There are characters who appear once and there are others, like Sirtago & Poet, who appear again and again. Authors include David Hardy, C. J. Burch, Michael Ehart, Jack Mackenzie, M. D. Jackson, Will Parker and G. W. Thomas. It is the opinion of the editor that the ideal length for a heroic fantasy tale is the novella. This series tries to prove that over and over. Here are exciting adventures with brave men and women who face off against the forces of darkness.
Esteban Maroto made a splash in America when he drew Red Sonja in a steel bikini for Marvel then “Dax the Damned’ series for Warren Publications. Maroto would draw many other comics for the black & white publisher but he caught fire with Dax. This opulent but depressing series began in Spain in People and was called “Manly el Guerrero” or “Manly the Warrior”. Translated into English, he became Dax for Eerie #39, April 1972.
But before Dax, there was Wolff. This heroic warrior appeared in Dracula (1971-1972) published in Spain by Buru Lan, but also in England with New English Library. I suspect NEL used the comic (not usually their thing) to promote a host of SF and Fantasy paperbacks. Esteban Maroto wrote the comic with Luis Gasca and drew the images. Unlike the Dax material of the next year, “Wolff” appeared in color. And what funky color!
The over-arching plot of the comic is a lone swordsman against a band of witches. As he travels through a world changed by radioactive war to do battle with these spell-casters, he encounters other women, usually not friendly or overly friendly. The comic was served most often in five page chunks, with the first page devoted to recap and the other four to the latest encounter. It is a format that would serve Maroto when he came to do Dax a year later.
Dracula #1
“The Path of the Dead” has Wolff return from the hunt to find his entire village gone, taken by the witches. An old man who survived the attack tells him that his wife, Bruma, has been taken with the rest. Wolff hears Bruma calling to him. The old man warns him that is not her but witchcraft. Wolff follows the voice to a monstrous idol in the desert where a demon attacks him. One thing jumped out at me in this initial foray. Both Wolff and the old man swear “By Crom!” which is a pretty obvious Robert E. Howardism.
Dracula #2
“The World of the Witches” has Wolff declare his hatred for the kidnappers and swears an oath he will rescue Bruma. He fights fell things like giant worms. During the battle he is observed by the Red Sorceress, Sadya. She desires Wolff’s strong sword arm and want to bring him to her realm. Her name reminds me of “Lorelei of the Red Mists” by Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury. She rides around on a giant, red bird.
Dracula #3
“The Sorceress of the Red Mist” begins with Wolff riding into a deserted city. He has a conversation with Sadya via magic. She allows Wolff to see that his tribe is being held in the Swamps of Ginza. The swordsman is attacked by an undead creature. Sadya tries to lure Wolff away but he is determined to save his people and his wife.
Dracula #4
“Night of the Werewolf” has Wolff come across Tanit and her clan of wolfmen. He is discovered and has to fight. When he engages with Tanit herself, she becomes a giant snake. For his troubles, Wolff is cursed with lycantrohopy. (For a guy named Wolff, this is ironic, I suppose.)
Dracula #5
“The Lady of the Wolves” begins with Rulah (not the jungle girl) finding Wolff unconscious. She too has wolves but they will not attack him since he is now part wolf. She cages Wolff to protect him, but when the full moon rises both of them become hairy. More REH stuff, two of her wolf friends are named Kull and Bran. (The lycanthropy thing is never really mentioned again.)
Dracula #6
“The Manuscript of Rep-Tah” starts with Wolff awakening to meet another beauty, Galadra of the Moon. She explains of the four manuscripts of Rep-Tah, of which she has three: Earth, Wind and Fire (not the group). She and Wolff will fetch the Water manscrript. This requires them to plunge into a lake where a water knight on lizardback attack them. Wolff fends him off but when they find a cavern filled with air, they meet Mother of Waters.
Dracula #7
“Mother of Waters” has the titular deity send the duo into another dimension. There, they are attacked by lizard men. Wolff frees himself and slays the monsters but Galadra doesn’t make it.
Dracula #8
“The Daughter of the Witch” begins with Wolff coming upon a beautiful woman in the clutches of lizardmen. He fights them, and rescues her. They flee on horseback. The woman is Katerina the Untouchable. She takes him home to meet father (he is never given a name), a dark wizard. They discuss whether Wolff is the savior of their race, which grew sterile and died out.
Dracula #9
“The Return of Sadya” starts with Katerina is being held in Sadya’s dungeon. We meet Sadya’s most foul demon, Polingur. Wolff is sent to save Katrina and has a battle of spirits. He returns with the daughter while Sadya’s minions turn on her.
Dracula #10
“The City in the Clouds” has Wolff and Katerina getting intimate before the barbarian agrees to use a spell that will transfer him to across the barrier between Wolff and his enemies. In the middle of the spell, Sadya and her flying lizard attack.
Dracula #11
“The Lair of the Witches” begins with Wolff on the other side of the barrier. He is in Ghamada, the Coast of Corpses. He enters a wizardly abode, meets a woman named Jehane who distracts him so that Sa-Ghot the demon can attack. Wolff defeats the monster by calling on Nadira, Daughter of Jupiter. He keeps walking for his final fight.
Dracula #12
“The Beginning of the End” has Lenora chained up as a sacrifice in the Swamp of Ginza. Wolff comes, kills the witch spirits tormenting her and defeats the enemies he has opposed from the beginning. Lenora is the smallest member of Wolff’s tribe. She shows Wolff that Bruma and the others have died. The two go off in the hopes of rekindling their kind.
Conclusion
Well, if like a strongly written Fantasy with plenty of logic, you might be disappointed here. This comic very much feels like a series of the same encounter-fight-consequence repeated twelve times. But if you like gorgeous art and very little lag then you will be happy. It should be remembered that these episodes weren’t meant to be read one after the other (as I have done) but spaced out over a year. You will see this again with “Dax the Damned” though Dax’s encounters aren’t always beautiful women seeking a lover. Wolff sees a lot of gals in his short time, but ends up with Lenora in the end. Now, Maroto and Gasca may have meant to return to this world. The ending certainly suggest the saga goes on. Several of the villains aren’t killed or defeated so they could return. Despite that, Wolff is done.
It may be hard to imagine a time when there was little Sword & Sorcery around. In 1971, there was Conan the Barbarian (still a fledgling enterprise with Barry Windsor-Smith as artist), one issue of Savage Tales and bits and pieces that had appeared in independent comics and the Warren magazines. S&S was an exciting new thing that was growing. So when I look at these Wolff comics, it may sound like I am being snide or critical, but these would have been special in 1971. Special in a way that younger Fantasy fans can’t really grasp. Esteban Maroto had many more wonderful S&S comics to draw along with the illustrations for The Magic Goes Away. Sword & Sorcery comics had much more to do, too. Wolff was a small glimpse into the potential of heroic fantasy comics.
Sword & Sorcery from RAGE machine Books
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