Free Classic 1970's Classic Comic Book Story and Old School Sci Fi RPG Commentary - Space 1999 Issue #5 1976's 'Undisturbed'

Good morning ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Space 1999 Sunday, today we've got a fantastic free comic book resource for you  from the world of Charlton comics! Thanks to the Diversions of the Groovy Kind  blog I've been able to get into one of the more look over Space 1999  resources. The Charlton comics are one of the most overlooked of these. Chartlon was based in Derby Ct and featured some of their top talent.
This issue features a black and white classic called "Undisturbed" by Nick Cuti and Gray Morrow.This story features everything an old school DM would need to turn the adventure right into the perfect 1970's space adventure location based adventure.



 GRAB IT RIGHT OVER HERE
Please read the story before proceeding any further
The opening panel features a great groovy moon buggy  vehicle. But it seems oddly familiar!

Oddly enough this "Lunar Crawler" that are the main form of transportation for future moon travelers was actually a homage to the  1964 World's Fair in New York by  General Motors. A fact that I was completely unaware of for years until it was pointed out by Richard Bensam from the Diversion's page. You can find out more right over HERE 

If you want a ton more information about this moon wagon Jay worked up a really nice little profile right over on his blog HERE

This story features everything that a DM could want for an old school spaced based dungeon crawl from the dungeon trek to the super science effects, high tech ruins, ancient humanoid aliens, artifacts of super science, and even ancient astronauts!
But 'Undisturbed' is a perfect retro clone space based dungeon crawl for any number of classic science fiction or retro clone table top rpg systems.

At the end of 'Undisturbed' the two Moon Base Alpha characters are still trapped aboard that ancient alien asteroid ship along with all of those super science artifacts and monsters. Your PC's would be just the folks to rescue  them and collect the treasure and like all loose ends of the show, this story issue will never be resolved.
Which is right where your party of adventurers picks up the trail of that classic 70's and 80's asteroid ship!
This makes this story a perfect mission fit for Metamorphosis Alpha 1st edition, Stars Without Number, X-plorers, heck it could even be used with something like Mutant Future with some modification.
For Trey's Strange Stars  this comic is a fantastic intro into the world of space based dungeon crawling. It hits all of the high water marks.
This is one of the reasons why the Space 1999 Charlton comic books are one of the best kept 1970's style space secrets. And one of my favorite unsung rpg resources

Special thanks to the Diversions of the Groovy Kind blog and their invaluable help. And as a special note this post is for educational and entertainment purposes and is not an attempt to violate the trade mark of Space 1999 or any of the rpgs mentioned. This is merely a fan homage to one of the cornerstones of classic 1970's sci fi television and for the fans of classic and neo rpgs. 

Free Comic Book Madness Monday : Dagar the Invincible #3 As Fodder For Your Old School Sword And Sorcery Campaigns

Jesse Santos artwork, 1976. via Dennis Ray from Marty Hirchak's COMIC BOOK SHOWCASE on Face Book . 

Growing up, I grew up reading Gold Key's Dagar The Invincible, recently Dark Horse comics produced an exceptional hardback of the adventures of Dagar.
According to Wiki:
Tales of Sword and Sorcery Featuring Dagar the Invincible is a comic book series created by writer Donald Glut and artist Jesse Santos for Western Publishing' Gold Key Comics line.Don Glut wrote the bible for the Heman and the Masters of the Universe cartoon an wrote the mini-booklets that came with the first toys. He had nothing to do with writing the cartoon it self but it is clear his original idea for the show was a lot closer to Dagar than what aired.The basic premise of this exceptional sword and sorcery title according to wiki again :
Dagar was a sword and sorcery series, set in a mythical past of warriors and wizards. There were a few secondary characters (Durak in #7, 12, 13; Torgus in #9, 10, 13). Don Glut also tied in his other Gold Key characters such as Tragg and Doctor Spektor. In #5, Jarn, Tragg's Neanderthal brother appeared. Tragg cameoed in issue #11. In issue #13, the story actually crossed over and was concluded in issue #15 of Doctor Spektor.
I stumbled across this issue earlier this afternoon whist making preparations for the Blizzard of 2015, on the Diversions of The Groovy Kind website, one of my all time favorites.
According to blog this issue featured some awesome plot and setting elements:
Just dig issue #3 (January 1973). "Wrath of the Vampires" give us, not only vampires (duh!), but woolly mammoths, trolls, giant "bat mounts", and beautiful ladies (this issue introduces Dagar's lady-love Graylin).
You Can Read it
HERE


Dagar The Invincible was one of those incredibly cool sword and sorcery comic books. The world of Dagar was a product of the sword and sorcery movement of the time and very easily adapted into D&D style adventures for parties. The high level of the action means a nice challenge for a party of adventurers, the PC's are going to locked into a world where they're not the meanest or nastiest. This is a series where the characters were always challenged by the setting. Because of the nature of the self contained stories of each issue makes this a really nice series to raid for one shot adventures.

The Dell comic books were well written and the artwork was exceptional making this a nice series to clue PC's in on exactly what they'd be facing down. The wizards are particularly mean and dangerous for a sword and sorcery title. The PC's can interact with Dagar The Invincible and his quest by acting as hired muscle, join in for a one shot adventure, cross paths or foil a plot involving the skull faced wizard and Dagar never being the wiser. There are lots of potential for very cool interacts with this title. 
The technology level in this series hovered between the Dark Ages and the End of the Roman Empire but there were glimmers of weird science, genetic tampering, high super science, and a bit of high stakes infernal interference.
Monsters, demons, dinosaurs, etc. were sometimes very unique and should be looked at on a one to one basis per issue once converted over for old school adventures. 

There's a great interview with Don Glut right over here at the Sword and Sorcery Site HERE
Mr.Glut has his own professional website right over HERE
You can find the Dagar The Invincible Hardcover at the Dark Horse Site right over HERE

Note that this post is for educational & entertainment purposes only, there is no copyright or trade mark violation intended here. The characters, setting,etc. are the product of their creators and the exceptional artists who brought this wonderful series to life.
The creations of Don Glut and Jesse Santos