"This is your captain, speaking: SSSSK!"

This is another comic where the cover somewhat misleads regarding the story within--or rather, writes a check the interior can't cash. Not to say it's bad, but...From 1994, "Dark Cargo" from Jurassic Park Adventures #2, reprinting Jurassic Park: Raptor #2, written by Steve Englehart, art by Armando Gil and Dell Barras, cover by Michael Golden!


Set immediately after the first Jurassic Park movie, Drs. Grant and Sattler have been trying to track down some raptor eggs that may have gone missing. They have, stolen with the raptor mom, by the hunter Lawala, who's working for parties unknown. Previously, the mom was killed, the eggs have hatched and grown remarkably quickly, and Grant, Sattler, and the young raptors are all in cages aboard a cargo jet. Grant tries picking the lock with a piece of his belt, but may have just shown the adaptive raptors how to do the same themselves! (Everyone seems surprised the raptors are smart enough not to blindly walk into ambushes or hazards like moving propellers or off cliffs, let alone have any stalking cleverness.)

The story appears to continue in Jurassic Park: Raptors Attack, or in reprints in Jurassic Park Adventures: the last issue appears to have a raptor willing to give flying another shot! Like another title I picked up recently, the early issues are readily available, but the print runs slid downward and the final issues are doubtless a little more scarce. Still, I saw the cover for this one at Kalispell Comics, and passed the first time; only to have to run back for it later!