The Warlord #3 (DC Comics, 1976)
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The Warlord #3 (November 1976), published by DC Comics, titled "War Gods of Skartaris." After saving a village from raiders, Travis Morgan is distracted by a unicorn and finds himself captured (again!) by lizardmen and hung from his SR-71. He is freed by Machiste, and they fight a snake monster. Morgan retrieves his trademark .44 Magnum from the cockpit.
The Warlord #3 Story Summary
"There is a world beyond our world... a world of eternal sunlight that might be a paradise, but for the presence of man!"
Well said, Mike Grell; however, it would be a boring comic book if there weren't brigands, pirates, and ne'er-do-wells aplenty in the land of Skartaris!
The wicked King Deimos is busy terrorizing hapless civilians and claiming their lands as his own until Travis Morgan, the Warlord, shows up and slaughters his armies with his army of freed gladiators. After saving a town of peasants from Deimos' men, Morgan doesn't receive the gratitude he expects. "We are liberators!" he exclaims.
Then a beautiful woman with a sword joins his ranks because, of course, she does.
The Warlord issue 3 follows in the events of The Warlord #2 after Travis Morgan frees himself and roughly 200 gladiators to hunt down and kill his mortal enemy, King Deimos. A few pages in, new readers get a two-page spread featuring Grell's intricate artwork and a summary of Travis Morgan's adventure to date. His SR-71 crashes into the center of the Earth in a land called Skartaris. He meets a beautiful woman, befriends a fellow slave named Machiste, and learns that Deimos has Tara and something called the Scrolls of Blood.
Machiste tells Morgan that his men are thirsty for gold, but Morgan fights for freedom! After a short talk with Machiste, Morgan rides back to camp but gets distracted by a unicorn. While he chases the magical beast, a mob of lizard monsters attacks him with sharp teeth and pointy claws.
The lizardmen overwhelm Morgan and knock him out, and for another issue, Morgan is captured and strung up... but this time, on his very own SR-71 Blackbird. As luck would have it, the plane crashed on top of their temple, and the lizardpeople worshiped it as a god (Morgan ejected from it before it crashed)
Before Morgan can be sacrificed, he kicks the chief lizardman in the face, but then the ground shakes and a monster snake appears! Machiste shows up, on horseback, frees Morgan, and then rides his horse into the monster's terrible jaws. Morgan crawls into the cockpit of his plane and retrieves his .44 Magnum, then shoots the giant snake in the eyeball.
Morgan finishes off the creature by launching his ejector seat through the back of its head.
After the fight, he has a laugh with Machiste, and the two discuss the Lizardmen's fantastic city. They wonder who built it, and walk right by a computer room without even noticing...
The Warlord #3 Creative Team
- Written and Illustrated: Mike Grell
- Colorist: Carl Gafford
- Editor: Joe Orlando
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The Warlord #3 FAQ
What is The Warlord #3 about?
The Warlord #3 continues Travis Morgan’s struggle for survival in the brutal world of Skartaris. After saving a village from King Deimos' raiders, he gets distracted by a unicorn and is captured by lizardmen. He then fights a giant snake and gets his trademark .44 Magnum.
Is The Warlord #3 a key issue?
The Warlord #3 is not considered a major key issue, but it is an important early chapter in the series. It continues the development of Machiste and expands the world of Skartaris, making it significant for collectors completing early issues of the run.
Who created The Warlord #3?
The issue was written and illustrated by Mike Grell, whose distinctive storytelling and artwork defined The Warlord series and made it one of DC’s standout fantasy titles of the Bronze Age.
When was The Warlord #3 published?
The Warlord #3 was published by DC Comics in June 1976 as part of the early run of the series.
How much is The Warlord #3 worth today?
The Warlord #3 is generally affordable for collectors. Prices vary depending on condition, with higher-grade copies and professionally graded issues commanding higher values, but it remains accessible compared to major Bronze Age key issues.
Is The Warlord #3 connected to other DC series?
Like the rest of the series, The Warlord #3 primarily stands on its own within the world of Skartaris. While Travis Morgan later interacts with the broader DC Universe, this issue focuses on the self-contained fantasy setting.
Do I need to read The Warlord #1 and #2 before issue #3?
Yes. It is recommended to read The Warlord #1 and #2 first, as they introduce Travis Morgan, Machiste, and the world of Skartaris. Issue #3 continues the story directly from those earlier events.
Why do collectors like The Warlord #3?
Collectors appreciate The Warlord #3 for its classic Bronze Age fantasy storytelling, strong artwork by Mike Grell, and its role in expanding the early storyline. It is an important part of completing a full run of The Warlord comics.
Is The Warlord #3 good for new readers?
Yes. While it continues an ongoing story, The Warlord #3 still offers action, adventure, and world-building that fans of sword-and-sorcery comics will enjoy. However, starting with issue #1 provides the best experience.
Who are the main villains in The Warlord #3
A mysterious race of lizardmen is the main villain, and a giant snake monster.
Is this the first appearance of Travis Morgan's .44 Magnum in The Warlord series?
Yes. Morgan retrieves his .44 Magnum from the cockpit of his SR-71 after being freed by Machiste.
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