Gold Key; June 1975
Cover by Jesse Santos

Title: “Spawn of Yargon”
Synopsis: A prehistoric couple empowered by the “genetic tinkering” of aliens must later defend their tribe when the “Sky Gods” return.

Writer: Don Glut
Penciler: Jesse Santos
Inker: Santos

Review: Mixing alien technology with a prehistoric world has long been a reliable recipe for fantasy fun. For instance, in comics, Mike Grell combined those ingredients during his always-enjoyable Warlord run. But the mix falls short on Tragg and the Sky Gods, with less-than-stellar creative execution taking the blame. There are certainly interesting concepts at play, but Don Glut’s script fails to develop them. Worse, the story’s plodding pace fails to hold reader interest. On the art side, Jesse Santos delivers some stylish pencils, but his storytelling isn’t the strongest. This debut issue isn’t awful, but it should have been better.

Grade: C-

Cool factor: Dinosaurs and aliens? How can you go wrong?
Not-so-cool factor: Holy Von Däniken, what a snoozer!
Collector’s note: This issue is reprinted — with less attractive cover coloring — in 1982’s Tragg and the Sky Gods #9, published by Whitman.

Character quotable: “He was no god, Lorn … with or without his weapon!” — Tragg, uppity caveman.

Copyright ©2014 Off the Wahl Productions, all rights reserved. Each week, T. Andrew Wahl takes a look at a Bronze Age Fantastic First. For more reviews like this one, check out Wahl’s website, ComicsBronzeAge.com.