Comic Title: Arak/Son of Thunder #8
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Cover Date: April 1982
On Sale Date: January 7, 1982 Newsstand Date January 7, 1982
Source: Comic Reader, #198

Newsstand Date January 7, 1982
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #62

Newsstand Date January 7, 1982
Source: Comics Journal, #69

Newsstand Date January 7, 1982
Source: Amazing Heroes, #8

Shipping Date December 15, 1981
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #62

Copyright Date December 15, 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

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.60
Page Count: 32
Editor: Dick Giordano

Title: "Arena of the Black Pope"
Pages: 19

Feature(s):
Arak

Plotter: Roy Thomas
Scripter: Mike W. Barr
Penciller: Ernie Colon
Inker: Robert Allen Smith
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Adrienne Roy

Feature Character(s)

• Arak (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #7; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #9)

Supporting Character(s)

• Valda (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #7; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #9)

Villain(s)

• The Black Pope (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #7; no further appearances)
• Followers of the Black Pope (Marius named; last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #7; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Hadrian (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #7; next appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #9)
• Several female prisoners of the Black Pope (no further appearances)
• Josephus (last appearance in Arak/Son of Thunder #7; next appearance in Arak, Son of Thunder #35)

Comments:
This story is continued from Arak/Son of Thunder #7.

Synopsis:
Arak finds the hidden lair of the Black Pope where Valda and Pope Hadrian are held prisoner. Outnumbered, Arak offers to fight in an arena to win his freedom and that of his friends. The Black Pope agrees to the challenge and forces Arak to fight a tiger and a roman warrior.

After succeeding in the first two battles, Arak, Valda, and the Pope fight a chariot battle with the Black Pope's minions. When they win, the Black Pope refuses to keep his word and let them go. However, one of his female slaves taken from the surface stabs him in the back. Arak and the others are able to escape in the confusion and return to the surface.