Mighty Samson #22
Published and © by Gold Key (Western), December 1973
Title: “The Riddle of the Raids”
Synopsis: Samson crosses the Huzon River to battle Kull the Killer and foil the plans of Terra of Jerz.
Writer: Otto Binder
Artist: Frank Thorne
Review: Like most issues of this series, Mighty Samson #22 (reprinted from 1965’s Mighty Samson #2) offers a fairly typical post-apocalyptic adventure. The series captures the then-emerging Saturday-morning-cartoon tone, with simple characters and no real sense of danger. The story is not good, per se, but competent at what it’s trying to do. What sets this issue apart is strong art from Frank Thorne. While not on par with his later Red Sonja work, Thorne’s renderings here are reminiscent of Joe Kubert’s style. Thorne’s page designs aren’t as strong as his fellow adventure artist, but he delivers several well-composed panels.
Grade: B-
Cool factor: By-the-books post-apocalyptic fun …
Not-so-cool factor: … that lacks the madcap inventiveness of DC’s Kamandi, Last Boy on Earth (see reviews).
Character quotable: “My electroprod can stop the strongest beast – or man!” – Terra of Jerz
Editor’s note: This review was written July 6, 2024.
