Claw the Unconquered #1
Published and © by DC, May-June 1975
Title: “The Sword and the Silent Scream”
Synopsis: A demon-handed barbarian named Valcan wards off several assassination attempts initiated by a sinister king.
Writer: David Michelinie
Artist: Ernie Chan (as Ernie Chua)
Review: Claw the Unconquered #1 proves to be a tough comic to grade, as it is unexceptional in almost every way. David Michelinie’s by-the-book barbarian tale offers little in the way of originality; it’s bland to the extreme, but not offensively so. Similarly, Ernie Chan’s art brings little to the mix: It’s serviceable, but not memorable. Both story and art seem content going through the motions, cataloging barbarian tropes without adding anything new. Claw might hope to be a B-list Conan, but his debut earns no better than a C.
Grade: C
Second opinion: “I’ll never forget picking up that first issue of Claw at Circle K, thinking how wonderful it was the DC was creating a Conan of its own.” – Jim Kingman, Comic Effect #27, Summer 2001 … “A sword-and-sorcery series, this deserved more credit than it got.” – Hassan Yusuf, FantaCo’s Chronicles Series Annual #1, 1983 … “Undistinguished.” – The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003
Cool factor: Let’s go with the bright pink cover. Nothing says barbarian badness quite like a bright pink cover!
Not-so-cool factor: Hmm … not sure this book even wants to be cool.
Notable: First appearance of Claw. … The “Of Swordsmen and Sorcerers” letters page includes a biographical essay about David Michelinie.
Character quotable: “Right now, girl, your charms mean less to me than a good horse!” – Claw the Unlovable
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Nov. 2, 2012.
