| Synopsis |
The fifth issue of Primus from Charlton offers up a change in
direction for the book. It features a blended cover image, made up of
a photo of Robert Brown and for the first time artwork featuring both
Primus and Charlie Whitman. I can't identify the artist, but it
doesn't seem to be Joe Staton. This issue once again features scripts
by the ubiquitous Joe Gill and artwork by Joe Staton who seems much
more himself this time out. The new guy on the book is George Wildman
who takes over as editor of this book and the Charlton line as a
whole.
Whether by design or coincidence, the first story is a real departure
for Primus. It's titled "The Fire People" and Part I begins with
Carter Primus and Charlie flying over a volcano in a small nameless
country. It seems there's a debate about putting a new dam at the
site and there's a debate about the ecological impact.
We meet Ambassador Bascombe and the guy who wants the new dam named
Mr.Wexford. Bascombe has sent for Primus and his team to do what we
call an "ecological impact study" these days. His report will decide
the issue. Primus heads out underwater and finds a warm lava tube
that seems to lead elsewhere when someone slides a rock on him. Toni
rescues him and then they hear that Bascombe is missing. On the
second dive they go together but separate after finding huge statues
indicating a submerged culture. Almost immediately Primus is attacked
and captured and taken inside the volcano where a city is hidden on
the interior rim. He finds Bascombe and meets King Nikan and his
daughter named Yula tells Primus about their culture and how they
choose to live apart from the modern world.
In Part II titled "The Test" Primus is to be judged in classic trial-
by-combat style and he is pitted against a giant of a another race
that lives alongside Nikan's people who have become more attuned to
living in the sea. After a long battle Primus defeats his opponent
and later they make their pitch for the dam to the King and his
daughter. Meanwhile Charlie and Toni look for Primus using a plane
and Charlie finds the hidden city and parachutes into the volcano.
The people of the city have been getting increasingly angry and the
danger is real for Primus and Bascombe, but then Charlie appears and
with Yula's help they find their scuba gear and escape. Over dinner
Primus tells Yula that they can move the dam to another location and
she gives him a kiss. Synopsis by Dean Webb |