Comic Title: Arak/Son of Thunder #26
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: October 1983
On Sale Date: July 7, 1983 Newsstand Date July 7, 1983
Source: Comic Reader, #212

Newsstand Date July 7, 1983
Source: Amazing Heroes, #27

Shipping Date June 14, 1983
Source: Comic Reader, #212

Shipping Date June 14, 1983
Source: Amazing Heroes, #27

Copyright Date June 14, 1983
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1983
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.60
Page Count: 32
Editor: Roy Thomas

Title: "The Lady or the Lioness"
Pages: 23

Feature(s):
Arak

Writer: Roy Thomas
Plotter: Danette Thomas
Artist: Ron Randall
Letterer: Bob Lappan
Colorist: Adrienne Roy

Feature Character(s)

• Arak (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #25; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #27)

Supporting Character(s)

• Satyricus (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #25; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #27)

Villain(s)

• Castor and Pollux (no further appearances)
• Dyanna (not named in this story; a shape-changer; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #27)

Other Character(s)

• Irene (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #18; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #27)
• Constantine VI (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #18; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #27)
• General Cometas (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #18; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #27)
• Cladus and the Greens (next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #27)
• Jamius (a charioteer; dies in this story; no further appearances)

Comments:
This story continues in the first story of Arak/Son of Thunder #27.

Synopsis:
Arak and Satyricus arrive in Byzantium to report the death of Kallinikos to Emperess Irene. Arak also plans to request the use of a ship to carry him back to his homeland. Upon arrival, the streets of the city are nearly empty. Arak is then attacked by a lioness. He is able to subdue the lion in a tarp.

Arak then meets Cladus, the leader of the Greens, a faction competing in the city games. Arak offers to become a charioteer in order to win gold to pay for the ship he intends to hire. He then competes in a chariot race where the competitors try to kill him. Arak prevails and is awarded a crown.

After the victory ceremony, Arak plans to meet with Irene, but he then sees the caged lioness. The people set the cage on fire. The lioness transforms into a beautiful woman. Arak is horrified as the crowd cheers for her death.