Comic Title: DC's 1st Issue Specials HC
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2020
On Sale Date: May 19, 2020 Direct Market Date May 20, 2020
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Direct Market Date April 15, 2020
Source: Previews, #376

Direct Market Date April 15, 2020
Source: DC Previews, #21

Cover Price: $39.99
Page Count: 272
Editor: Reza Lokman

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "Land of Fear"
Pages: 18

Feature(s):
Warlord (of Earth-1)

Writer/Artist: Mike Grell

Reprinted From:
1st Issue Special #8 (1975)

Feature Character(s)

• Warlord (Travis Morgan; first appearance; last appearance in Warlord #91; next appearance in Warlord #1)

Supporting Character(s)

• Tara (heir to the throne of Shamballah; first appearance; last appearance in Warlord #58; next appearance in Warlord #1)

Villain(s)

• Deimos (High Priest of Thera; first appearance; next appearance in Warlord #4)
• King Baldur of Thera and various Theran soldiers (Baldur's name revealed in Warlord #1; no further appearances)
• A deinonychus (a dinosaur; dies this story; no further appearances)
• Two Soviet soldiers (no further appearances)
• A serving girl (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Several palace servants (no further appearances)

Comments:
This story takes place on June 16, 1969.

Synopsis:
Air Force pilot Travis Morgan is flying a spy mission over Soviet territory when his plane is spotted. The Soviets fire on him and damage his plane. The plane is now leaking fuel which prevents Morgan from making his planned landing. Instead, he charts a course across the North Pole back to friendly territory. When his plane runs out of fuel he is forced to eject over what he believes is the Yukon Territory. Instead he lands in a lush jungle.

Safely on the ground, Travis Morgan begins exploring the new world in which he has landed. He notices that there is no horizon and that the sun remains motionless, directly overhead. Eventually he comes upon a beautiful woman fighting for her life against a carnivorous dinosaur. Morgan joins the fight and working together with the girl, they kill the beast.

Immediately after the fight, soldiers close in around the two fighters. Morgan uses his gun to shoot a couple of them, but he quickly runs low on ammunition. Fortunately the soldiers are unfamiliar with guns and cease their advance in fear. Morgan and the girl are then escorted to the city of Thera.

Morgan and his new companion are brought before the king and the high priest Deimos. When the priest uses a magic orb against Morgan, the Air Force officer shoots and destroys it, earning him fear and respect. Morgan and the girl are then given quarters and cleaned up.

Over time Morgan is able to learn the girl's language. She is Tara from a land called Shamballah. Morgan believes that when he flew over the pole, he actually entered a hollow space within the Earth, a land that Tara calls Shamballah. The sun here is actually the Earth's core held in place by gravity on all sides.

Later in the night, Deimos sends assassins to kill Morgan and Tara. They fight for their lives and are forced to flee Thera into the jungle.