The Wizard King Trilogy, Vol. 2: Odkin Son of Odkin

The Wizard King Trilogy #2

by Wallace Wood, Wendy Pini (Foreword)

Long out of print - this is the second volume of Wood's historic, landmark graphic novel trilogy! Bill Gaines, the publisher of Mad and Tales from the Crypt, called Wallace Wood the greatest science fiction artist that ever lived. Here, at last, is the second book in Wood's masterpiece, The Wizard King Trilogy, a remarkable tribute to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings with its own distinctive magic. The a strange shadow falls over the elfish village of the Immi - a shadow with eyes. Odkin, a young Immi, investigates - and is drawn into a perilous plan to save the world from Anark, the blackest villain of all space and time. This intriguing story, long out of print, offers an exciting look at the dawn of the graphic novel. Wallace Wood's Weird Science comic books were named by Entertainment Weekly as one of the top 100 science-fiction influences in history. Ranked at number thirty-five on the list, Wood's work topped the movies Brazil, Soylent Green, Mad Max, Slaughterhouse Five, and Forbidden Planet. Wood died in 1981. The features must-have for fans of graphic novels, Lord of the Rings, fantasy, and manga fans; by the creator of Weird Science, Mars Attacks, Fireball XL-5, and other influential art.

Genres: Comics

68 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Wallace Allan Wood was an American comic book writer, artist and independent publisher, best known for his work in EC Comics and Mad. Although much of his early professional artwork is signed Wallace Wood, he became known as Wally Wood, a name he claimed to dislike. Within the comics community, he was also known as Woody, a name he sometimes used as a signature.

He was the first inductee into the comic book's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame, in 1989, and was inducted into the subequent Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame three years later.

In addition to Wood's hundreds of comic book pages, he illustrated for books and magazines while also working in a variety of other areas — advertising; packaging and product illustrations; gag cartoons; record album covers; posters; syndicated comic strips; and trading cards, including work on Topps' landmark Mars Attacks set.

For much of his adult life, Wood suffered from chronic, unexplainable headaches. In the 1970s, following bouts with alcoholism, Wood suffered from kidney failure. A stroke in 1978 caused a loss of vision in one eye. Faced with declining health and career prospects, he committed suicide by gunshot three years later.

Wood was married three times. His first marriage was to artist Tatjana Wood, who later did extensive work as a comic-book colorist.

EC editor Harvey Kurtzman, who had worked closely with Wood during the 1950s, once commented, "Wally had a tension in him, an intensity that he locked away in an internal steam boiler. I think it ate away his insides, and the work really used him up. I think he delivered some of the finest work that was ever drawn, and I think it's to his credit that he put so much intensity into his work at great sacrifice to himself".

EC publisher William Gaines once stated, "Wally may have been our most troubled artist... I'm not suggesting any connection, but he may have been our most brilliant".

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not as good as vol. 1, which wasn't really outstanding to begin with. The plot races far too fast, and the hero is forced by circumstances and obstacles to complete his quest when he opts to walk away from the adventure. Wood does have an interesting notion about immortality, but it's barely touched on amid the random plotting. Even Wood's art is rushed and slightly sloppy. The best part of the whole book: Wood's obsession with drawing every single female character naked. Which is enjoyable, but a book of Wood pin-ups without the inane story might've been preferable.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.