Number 486


We come from the land of the ice and snow


In 1955, after implementation of the Comics Code, DC Comics created The Brave and the Bold, an anthology comic with three different heroes. The original lineup was Viking Prince by Joe Kubert, Shining Knight by Irv Novick, and Golden Gladiator by Russ Heath. Gladiator was soon replaced by Robin Hood.

The Brave and the Bold was a hit with me because of the Viking Prince. At the time I didn't see it as DC Comics' take on Hal Foster's Prince Valiant, all I knew was I really loved the artwork and the stories about vikings.

As the series opens, Jon, the main character, is an amnesiac, who is rightful ruler of a kingdom usurped by the "evil Thorvald," who wants him permanently out of the way. This story, "The Ice Dragon," is from Brave and the Bold #5. The stories for B&B were by Robert Kanigher, who also edited. The three artists for B&B also worked for him on the war comics.


"The Ice Dragon" is scanned from DC Special #12, May-June 1971.