Description

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World                                               Comics Lot
Created by: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Writer: Donald Marquez
Artist: Donald Marquez
All Covers by: Donald Marquez

The Lost World is a novel released in 1912 by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle concerning an expedition to a plateau in the Amazon basin of South America where prehistoric animals (dinosaurs and other extinct creatures) still survive. The novel also describes a war between indigenous people and a vicious tribe of ape-like creatures.

In 1996, Millennium Comics published a two-part adaptation of The Lost World in comic format. Adapted and illustrated by Donald Marquez, this comic actually succeeds in keeping with the novel for the most part. The storyline remains essentially the same as Professor Challenger leads an expedition of scientists and adventurers to a remote plateau deep in the Amazonian jungle to verify his claim that dinosaurs still live there.

Story/Spoilers
In issue #1, Edward Malone, a young reporter for the Daily Gazette, asks his editor for a dangerous assignment to impress the woman he loves, Gladys, who wishes for a great man capable of brave deeds and actions. His task is to approach the notorious Professor Challenger, who dislikes the popular press intensely and physically assaults intrusive journalists. The subject is to be his recent South American expedition which, surrounded by controversy, guarantees a hostile reaction. As a direct approach would be instantly rebuffed, Malone instead masquerades as an earnest student at a science lecture. Challenger reveals he has discovered living dinosaurs in South America. The lecture turns tumultuous in which Challenger experiences further ridicule. An expedition to verify the discoveries is declared and Malone volunteers. His companions are to be Professor Challenger, Professor Summerlee, and Lord John Roxton, an adventurer. Professor Challenger learns that Malone is a reporter with no scientific knowledge and erupts in anger and forcibly throws him out. Malone earns Challenger’s respect by refusing to press charges with a policeman who saw his violent ejection into the street. Challenger decides to let Malone go on the expedition to further prove his claims. Later, aboard the expedition ship, Professor Challenger recounts his recent South American expedition. The expedition finally reaches South America, and they make their way through the jungle with the aid of Indian guides. Later, Professor Challenger leads the party to an uncharted plateau where they make a makeshift bridge, with a downed tree, and cross over to the lost world. Whilst investigating the wonders of the lost world they all soon discover a place where dinosaurs still roam. At night a ferocious dinosaur is about to break through to their camp; Roxton averts disaster by bravely dashing at it, thrusting a blazing torch at its face to scare it away. Later, while Malone is climbing a tree, he discovers an ape-man who swings away. As the expedition goes deeper into the jungle, they discover many other extinct dinosaurs.

Finally in issue #2, Whilst investigating the wonders of the lost world, discovering many plants and creatures thought to be extinct, they narrowly escape an attack from pterodactyls. Barely escaping with their lives into the jungle, they make camp. At night, while Malone is up watching, he hears a twig snap nearby and discovers and captures a native girl named Marata. All of sudden, out of nowhere, a ferocious dinosaur breaks through the bushes and chases them. Fleeing the dinosaur, Malone and Marata fall into some kind if trap which hides them from the dinosaur. Later, they climb out and make their way back to Malone’s camp only to find it deserted. Roxton soon shows up and tells Malone that they were all captured by a race of ape-men and that they need to gather up supplies and weapons as quickly as possible. They make to the deeper woods just in time to hide as a group of ape-men are passing by. Marata gets spooked and takes off. Feeling concerned for Marata, Malone goes to search for her but is captured and almost killed by an ape-man. But Roxton saves him. Malone declares that Marata has been abducted by the ape-men. Roxton and Malone mount a rescue and save Marata in just the nick of time as well as Professor Challenger and Professor Summerlee. They all escape back into the jungle and make their way to a lake. There are greeted by a tribe of natives, with whom the ape-men are at war and discover that Marata is the village chief’s daughter. Later an all-out epic battle ensues in the jungle between the tribe of natives and the ape-men with the expedition team caught in the middle. The natives, with the help of the expedition firepower, defeat the ape-men. With the tribe of natives victorious over the ape-men, they all go to the tribe of natives’ secret hidden city. After witnessing the power of their guns, the tribe wish to keep them on the plateau but helped by the young princess Marata, they discover a tunnel leading back to the outside world. Upon returning to England, Malone returns to his love – Gladys, hoping she will recognize his achievements. Instead, he finds she has now changed her mind and married a very ordinary man instead, an insignificant accountant. Later at another science lecture, despite a testimony from Professor Summerlee detractors continue to dismiss the expedition’s account, much as they had Challenger’s original story. Anticipating this, at a public meeting Challenger produces a young pterodactyl as proof, transfixing the audience and leaving them in no doubt of the truth. The explorers are instantly feted as heroes, and on a wave of adulation by cheering crowds with thunderous clapping… the young pterodactyl is startled and flies away through a window and escapes. Later at a private fireside meeting, astonished at the turn of events, namely “their Lost World proof” flying out the window, Professor Challenger declares that it’s time to go back to the lost world to get more proof and rest all decide to accompany him.

Comics lot contains: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World (1996) Issues # 1-2.  Millennium Publications

Comics are bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Printings
Publisher: Millennium Publications
Publication Date: 1996
Format per comic: BW, 32 pages, Comic, 10.25″ x 6.5″
UPC: None Stated

Collectible Entertainment note: Comics 1,2 are in Fine to Very Fine condition.  Nice Set!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Lost World and/or Dinosaurs collector / enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Recommended.

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