Comic: Trollords, issue no.2
Release date: May 1986
Writer: Scott Beaderstadt and Paul Fricke
Artist: Scott Beaderstadt and Paul Fricke
Publisher: Tru Studios
Cover: full color
Interior: pen drawings (black on white paper)
Synopsis: When their cave home is destroyed by flood waters, the trolls find themselves literally facing death!
Rejecting the 'Final Option', the trolls return to earth and life. Resolved to find meaning in their renewed existence, our heroes get their chance when they save the lovely and disturbed Kelly Nugrowski.
Draw away from her shortly thereafter, they find that it's not so easy to escape death... and now they are...
The Deal
It's very rare that I find an English comic when I go to car boot sale in my native country but last Sunday I did. Lucky me! Now I've known the guy that I bought it off from when I still owned an on-line store, but he didn't recognize me. Not a problem, but I got his whole b*s routine about how this comic is worth quite the figure. If he'd recognized me from before he wouldn't have bothered. I bought the comic for € 1,50.
The Feel
Everything about this comic screams mid 1980's printer. From the newsprint paper interior to the slightly heavier glossy coated full color cover. I love it, nothing but nostalgia here.
The Story
It's a continuing story about the Trollords. Even though I don't have, and have never read, the first issue there's an explanation of the trolls first issue on the first page (see the synopsis at the top of this page) which really helps you to get into the story. Though I can only comment on this issue, I can see a really good story development here and I find myself looking out for more issues. There is mention of suicide in this issue, so I wouldn't give it to younger children even though they look like they might be for all ages, the story isn't.
So much pulp was made in the 80's and 90's it's good to find a decent story, it even made me laugh on several pages.
The Look
The drawings were made with black pen and they've been finished to a high standard. The trolls anatomy seems correct and realistic. The layout of the panes on the pages, compliments the story line and is different on every page.
The Conclusion
They're well drawn, have a plot and it keeps you on your toes and it's funny to read. What's not to like? If you don't mind going old-school then this is for you. Only problem is that one issue isn't going to get you very far in the story line. I'd suggest you try to get some more to really enjoy the Trollords.
How to get a copy?
Well that might not be all that difficult. I found quite a few of them on eBay. You can get them anywhere from 1,00 GBP all the way to crazy. As far as I could find there are eighteen Trollords issues in existence, some were published by 'Tru Studios' and some by 'Apple Comics' both publishers started with issue #1 so take a close look before buying so you don't mix up your issues. Even though the comics are from the 1980's the three Trollords are still alive and well and living on this facebookpage. There's even mention of digitizing the first eight issues.
