Comic Title: Arak, Son of Thunder #43
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: April 1985
On Sale Date: January 10, 1985 Newsstand Date January 10, 1985
Source: DC Releases, #11

Newsstand Date January 10, 1985
Source: House Ad, Arak, Son of Thunder #43, Page IBC

Newsstand Date January 10, 1985
Source: Amazing Heroes, #61

Shipping Date December 18, 1984
Source: DC Releases, #11

Copyright Date December 18, 1984
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1984
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Shipping Date December 18, 1984
Source: Amazing Heroes, #61

Cover Price: $0.75
Page Count: 32
Editor: Roy Thomas

Title: "Keepers of the Dead"
Pages: 23

Feature(s):
Arak

Writer: Roy Thomas
Writer: Danette Thomas
Artist: Tony DeZuniga
Letterer: L. Lois Buhalis
Colorist: Adrienne Roy

Feature Character(s)

• Arak (last appearance in Arak, Son of Thunder #42; next appearance in Arak, Son of Thunder #44)

Supporting Character(s)

• Valda (last appearance in Arak, Son of Thunder #41; next appearance in Arak, Son of Thunder #44)
• Satyricus (last appearance in Arak, Son of Thunder #41; next appearance in Arak, Son of Thunder #44)

Villain(s)

• Ereshkigal and Nergal (queen and lord of the underworld; no further appearances)
• The Annunaki (beast men; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Gilgamesh (last appearance in Arak, Son of Thunder #42; no further appearances)
• Utnapishtim (last appearance in Arak, Son of Thunder #42; no further appearances)
• Denizens of the underworld (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Malagigi (in flashback)
• Alsind (in flashback)
• Angelica (in flashback)

Comments:
This story is continued from Arak, Son of Thunder #42.

Synopsis:
Arak is granted entrance to the underworld land of Kur by Utnapishtim. He quickly finds Satyricus who part of a procession of the dead. Arak snaps the satyr back to his senses, then the duo go in search of Valda. They find her standing in judgment before the lords of the underworld Nergal and Ereshkigal. Arak fights to free her. His struggles cause a statue of Gilgamesh to come to life. Gilgamesh then joins Arak to free Valda from the land of the dead.

Eventually Ereshkigal gives up and allows Arak and his companions to go free. However, the Quontaukan must still find a passage out of Kur. He succeeds and leads the others back to the surface of the island. Gilgamesh then lies down to die since he has lived out his natural life. The others continue onward to Angelica's temple which now appears abandoned.