Comic Title: Arak/Son of Thunder #1
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Cover Date: September 1981
On Sale Date: June 4, 1981 Newsstand Date June 4, 1981
Source: Comic Reader, #191

Newsstand Date June 4, 1981
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #55

Newsstand Date June 4, 1981
Source: Comics Journal, #64

Newsstand Date June 4, 1981
Source: Amazing Heroes, #2

Newsstand Date June 4, 1981
Source: Daily Planet, Vol. 81 #8

Copyright Date May 12, 1981
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1981
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Shipping Date May 12, 1981
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #55

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.50
Page Count: 32
Editor: Dick Giordano

Title: "The Sword and the Serpent"
Pages: 25

Feature(s):
Arak

Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciller: Ernie Colon
Inker: Tony DeZuniga
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Carl Gafford

Feature Character(s)

• Arak (last appearance in Arak, Son of Thunder #31; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #2)

Supporting Character(s)

• Hermold and Olaf (Arak's rescuers; both die in this story; no further appearances)

Villain(s)

• Sigvald (captain of a viking raiding ship; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Angelica (a sorceress; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #5)
• Argalia (Angelica's brother; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #5)
• Four bodyguards (in service to Argalia; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #5)

Other Character(s)

• Members of Sigvald's crew (Leif named; no further appearances)
• Brother Philip and the monks at a monestary (Brother Clary also named; most die in this story; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Arak (pages 1-6; origin; last appearance in Arak, Son of Thunder #36; next appearance in Arak, Son of Thunder #46)

Comments:
This story takes place sometime during the 8th century A.D.

Arak, Son of Thunder #31 and the second story of Warlord #48 take place between pages 6 and 7 of this story.

Synopsis:
A viking raiding ship led by its captain Sigvald is blown far out to sea to the west. When the storms subside, the crew spots a tiny ship carrying a young boy with red skin. Two of the vikings, Hermold and Olaf, bring the boy aboard their ship. The boy, who had been unconscious, awakens and grabs the necklace worn by Sigvald. The captain makes to strike the boy down, but Hermold stays his hand. The viking claims the boy as his own and raises him to adulthood.

At first the boy does not know the language of the vikings. He is given the name Arak, a mispronunciation of Erik. Although, Sigvald considers the outsider to be a slave, Hermold frees the Arak who joins the vikings on many of their raids. On one particular raid, Arak becomes fascinated by a jeweled cross at a monk monastery. The cross reminds him of the hammer of the viking thunder god. Among his own people, the Quontaukas, Arak was said to be the son of thunder.

The following year, the vikings return to attack the monastery again. This time a sorceress, Angelica, destroys their ship with the aid of a sea serpent. The monks fight back and kill most of the vikings including Hermold. Arak and Sigvald are taken prisoner, and indian is given the opportunity to join Angelica and her party as a slave. Having no loyalty to Sigvald, who mistreated him, Arak agrees.

Arak joins the group as they head to the Frankland ruled by Carolus Magnus. Upon departure, Arak sees that Sigvald and the remaining monks are being sacrificed to the sea serpent. He decides to risk his own life to save the monks. Most are killed, but Arak is able to vanquish the monster using the pointed end of the jeweled cross. At the same moment the creature is struck by lightning. Angelica and her group depart without him, but Arak tells the sole surviving monk that he intends to follow them.