Turok, his brother Andar, and an Old West landscape filled with dinosaurs have all seen many incarnations throughout the years, dating back as far as the 1950s and even appearing in a video game. Dynamite’s Turok Volume 2 #1 promises a fresh take on the classic that is sure to please old and new fans alike.
The action-packed series by writer Ron Marz (Green Lantern, Witchblade), artist Roberto Castro (Red Sonja, Flash Gordon), colorist Salvatore Aiala (Queen Sonja), and letterer Troy Peteri (Green Hornet) begins strong, with Andar captured by the US cavalry and with Turok in hot pursuit to rescue him. As the brothers flee the grip of the soldiers, they find themselves face to face with creatures unheard of in the western setting. They soon witness how dangerous these strange, large lizards can be. The Beat chatted with Marz for more on the upcoming title.
Deanna Destito: The first issue is exciting and has elements from previous versions of this character. What can fans expect to see that is the same and what new spin will you put on the story and characters?
Ron Marz: I think what we’re trying to do is “new version, same feel” as previous iterations of Turok. Our particular Turok is a new take on the character, but very much in keeping with the personality of previous versions, including the video game version. If you’re familiar with the various Turok series that have come before, this will dovetail with what you know. If you’ve never read Turok before, this is a ground-floor storyline, you don’t need to know anything going in. You’ll get brave warriors, hungry dinosaurs, and some really lovely art by Roberto Castro.
Destito: What drew you to writing Turok?
Marz: There’s a charm to the original stuff that I’m definitely drawn to. They’re classic adventures tales cut from the same cloth as Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard stories I grew up reading.
Destito: Were you a fan of other versions?
Marz: I’ve paid attention to all the versions, especially the work my pal Bart Sears did during his run.
Destito: Will fans see other recognizable characters along the way as well as new personalities in this world?
Marz: Turok and his brother Andar are the central characters, of course, and we have a lot of new characters around them in the first few issues. But as the story progresses, readers will definitely encounter some recognizable characters. I don’t want to say anything more than that, because revealing more details would spoil some of where the story is headed.
Destito: Compared to your previous work, how has writing a western fantasy such as this been?
Marz: Every gig is different, with different challenges. But ultimately, every gig is the same, in that it’s my job to make the audience care about the characters and their situation enough that they want to come back and see what happens next. Whether it’s a Western with dinosaurs, or a superhero story, or horror, or science-fiction, that aspect is always the same.
Issue #1 hits stores January 9, 2019. Readers can choose their favorite among four covers from Castro as well as Bart Sears, Butch Guice, and Jefferey Veregge.
