Would "Dual Duel" have been a better title? Said duel didn't kill either one, so...

Another blast from the past, as we look at a comic from 1982 in a post I wrote in 2017! Warlord #60, "Death Dual!" Written by Mike Grell--or rather plotted by, uncredited script by Sharon Grell; pencils by Jan Duursema, inks by Mike DeCarlo. And that is "dual" and not "duel," although technically I guess either would work here.

Now, I've said before I have no intention of blogging every issue of Warlord, partially because there are some doldrums in the book's run. This was the conclusion of a four or so issue stretch with Travis playing Man in the Iron Mask, trapped in a dungeon and replaced by an actor. (A pretty good actor for a largely medieval society, but let that go!) It's part of a plot against Tara, queen of Shamballah; but oddly it's more political than usual: instead of having the impostor kill her, he's working with the "council of elders" to undermine her power and leave her a figurehead. Tara has noticed something wrong with the replacement Travis, but is also distracted yet comforted by her childhood sweetheart, the bard minstrel Graemore.

Travis does make a friend while chained up in a dungeon: the young thief Tinder, who is really Travis and Tara's son Joshua! He had been believed dead for some time, but still had the armband that proved he was their son: Travis's watch. Which he loses, when forced to flee during Travis's escape: his former boss, Darvin, ends up with the watch, but also realizes what it means even if Tinder doesn't. Not seeing that, Travis kills the guards, getting one to confess he was hired by councilman Praydor, then stomps into the palace looking for his double. Usually, this probably wouldn't have even been a fight, but Travis's stint in the dungeon has taken a lot out of him, and he's on the verge of losing when Tara finds them.

With Travis's .44 Automag on the pair, Tara tries to remember some of Travis's rambling about the surface world, since only he would know any of that, and asks who was "the King of Swing!" Travis quickly answers Benny Goodman, and nearly gets shot, since that's not how Tara remembers it!

Travis and Tara are reunited, although she does share a wistful glance with Graemore in the end. And a blacksmith fulfills another order for an iron mask, this one for the traitorous Praydor. At first that seemed wasteful, why not just put the one Travis had been wearing on him? But Travis's mask had large spikes that aided his escape; don't make that mistake again.

Also this issue: an Arion back-up feature, which ran from Warlord #55 through #62, then he got his own comic, which would run for almost three years. Not my favorite of back-ups: honestly, I'm not sure I've ever had more than a vague idea what was going on in it. Maybe if I read all the chapters I had in one sitting, instead of sporadically over years!