Turok, Dinosaur Hunter #16 Review

Turok is a character who’s had multiple interpretations by multiple publishers since his first appearance in 1954. His adventures involve the weirdness (mostly dinosaurs) that comes out of the “Lost Lands,” a part of Earth that has weird time stuff going on in it, like the rift in Torchwood mixed with Marvel’s Savage Land.

Issue #16: The Snake Man

Turok sits atop a cliff and is visited by a ghostly woman he’s never met before named Sandria Darque. She warns him that a shaman he wronged in the past is out to get him, and that he plans to somehow use dinosaurs to attain ultimate power.

Turok fighting Snakeholder — Turok remembers an earlier fight with Snakeholder

Turok has a flashback where he remembers fighting and killing the shaman, Snakeholder, in the 19th century. With his dying breath, Snakeholder warns of his inevitable return: “When the sky turns black at noon, when metal birds fall from the sky, I shall return and take my vengeance on you!”

Turok fighting dinosaur — Turok hunts some dinosaurs

Dinosaur Hunting

On Sandria’s orders, Turok heads over to Big Bend to hunt a couple dinosaurs that are causing oodles of trouble. He is successful in slaying them, but sustains several wounds in the process. Snakeholder shows up, sics a poisonous snake on Turok, then leaves.

Snakeholder with snake — As far as surprises go, this isn’t a good one

Turok survives the snake’s venom due to an immunity he’s built up getting constantly bitten by snakes over the years. Sandria reappears and is like, “You sure did make a powerful enemy today. Gotta go, bye.”

Sandria says bye to Turok — Sandria is not helpful

Thoughts

I’m vaguely familiar with the Turok games, but I was unaware they were based on a comic series. Dinosaurs are cool and every scene containing dinosaurs in this comic is cool. For the scenes without dinosaurs, I kept wondering, “when will I see the dinosaurs again?”And what’s with the metal plates on their heads? Are they cyborg dinosaurs? Even cooler!

In a single issue, I didn’t really get a good grasp of Turok; he seemed taciturn and introspective, and had the catchphrase, “What a vision!” whenever he saw something strange. He feels like the typical Native American warrior stereotype. Maybe not as offensive as older depictions of Native Americans, but still a stereotype. And everything else about this issue felt lukewarm.

Turok getting into car — Turok prepares for his trip to Big Bend

This issue is part of a multi-comic crossover called “Chaos Effect.” It’s the only Turok comic involved in the crossover and I’m not sure how it fits. Does Sandria pop up in all the other comics, maybe?