Warlord #40
Published and © by DC, December 1980
Title: “The Brotherhood of Death”
Synopsis: Warlord visits old friend Aram al Ashir as the thief-turned-king dreads a pending marriage of political convenience.
Writer: Mike Grell
Penciler: Grell
Inker: Vince Colletta
Review: Just when this reviewer had given up on the potential-laden Warlord “making the leap,” writer/artist Mike Grell delivers one of the best issue’s of his Bronze Age run. Old friends and all-but-forgotten subplots take centerstage, giving this issue a richness of story that is often missing in one-off adventures.
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Title: “The Book of the Dead”
Synopsis: Mariah and Machiste join Mongo Ironhand in an effort to retrieve the Necronomicon, the legendary book of the dead.
Writer: Mike Grell
Penciler: Grell
Inker: Vince Colletta
Review: The occasional Wizard World backup adds fun banter to the Warlord mix, with Mongo Ironhand stealing every scene he’s in.
Grade (for the entire issue): A-
Cool factor: The story content levels up.
Not-so-cool factor: Vince Colletta’s inks keeps the art from doing the same.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.
Character quotable: “Here you are, a Russian woman from the twentieth century, running around in a lost world at the center of the Earth in your BVDs … trapped in the Age of the Wizard Kings, eons before your own time, and you’re telling me what’s impossible?” – Mongo Ironhand, truth-teller
Editor’s note: This review was written Feb. 21, 2025.
