It’s time again to visit the world of Swordquest, the contest that never finished. You can get the full story from this site, but here’s the highlights: Part of the “Adventure” series, the four games represented the four elements of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water (the forgotten disco band member), with a prize of $50,000 US tied to real life versions of the items you had to find in the game and a sort of early ARG to find the final sword of the name. The games looked like this.
Isn’t that exciting, kids?
This gameplay is from Waterworld, and I will not make any further Kevin Costner references after this sentence. Not sorry. This is the third and final game in what was supposed to be a four game series, so we are heading straight off the cliffhanger on this one. For those of you who missed out on Earthworld and Fireworld (Airworld would have been the final game), the tie-in comics would introduce characters not really seen in the games. The players are represented by twin thieves Torr and Tarra, who learn they’re destined to bring down the evil ruler Tyrannus, who killed their parents because of the prophecy that their kids would kill him and end his reign in the future. Thus creating the very prophecy he sought to avoid when they came after him for revenge. Nice going, idiot!
Although their real target is the tyrant’s court wizard, Konjuro, aka “we’re not even trying to hide that these are the villains”. Our blonde twins have been bouncing through other worlds, and this is their latest stop, after drinking from a chalice that turned into portal to the next questing dimension. They’re also trying to beat Herminus, who just wants to steal the sword at the end of the game quest so he can have a gold sword. He’s a simple thief and I’m not convinced he’s even needed. That’s where we are headed into our next and unintentional final chapter.
Where’s Aquaman when you need him?
Swordquest #3
DC Comics/Atari (1983)
Waterworld: “Powers Of Prime”
CREATORS/WRITERS: Roy Thomas & Gerry Conway
VISUAL CONCEPTS/ART: George Peréz & Dick Giordano
DESIGN: Neil Pozner
COLORIST: Adrienne Roy
LETTERER: John Costanza
EDITOR: Dick Giordano
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