YEAH --BUT WHAT A WAY 70 GOS CS A TROLLISH ue eu cree 5WHY ARE YOU LOOKING SO DOWN ? WE'VE BEATEN YOUR OTHER SELF AN? WORST ENEMY, THE MAGUS! UNIVERSAL CHURCH OF TRUTH WILL NEVER BE, AND WE'RE BOTH ALIVE! EVERYTHINGS JUST JAKE / THE OWLY THING WORTH WORRYING ABOUT IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR ALL THE OTHER ASSORTED VICES WE'VE IN- PULGED IN THESE LAST FOUR DAYS! HIS TRUE, WE'VE ABORTED THE MAGUS'S EXISTENCE ANC NEGATED ANY EFFECT HE MIGHT HAVE HAD UPON THE UNIVERSE! YETI RECALL ALL THAT HAS TRANSPIRED AND HAVE DURING THE A4ST DAYS THAT HAVE NO LONGER EVER OCCURRED, I HAVE SEEN DEATH ANP SORROW; GONE SLIGHTLY MAD; STOLEN AND STILL CARRY WITHIN ME THE BEEN CHANGED By /T. SOULS OF SCORES OF WARRIORS AND MURCERED MY FUTURE SELF. \ vi i THESE ARE EVENTS I WAVE EXPER: (ENCED, YET WHICH NEVER HAPPENED. SUCH A CONCEPT IS TRULY MADDEN- ING! AM I A MADMAN, KILLER AND SOUL THIEFPOR AM I YET THE SIMPLE FOOL I WAS MERE DAYS AGO? i SSUE OF WOMAN, I ANNOT FINP THE ERENITY TO THINK STARS IS WHERE I SHALL FING THETHAT CREEP JUST UP ANG DESERTEO ME -- AFTER ALL THE TIMES I'VE SAVED HIS LIFE! EXPLAIN... MY EYE !! YOU WERE PLANNING TO TAKE CRUEL ADVANTAGE OF MY GENTLE NATURE--// ANO I THOUGHT YOU WERE DIFFERENT// WELL, ah... I... I'VE BEEN MEANING TO SPEAK. ABOUT THAT / You SEE, I WAS KIND OF UNDER THE INFLUENCE LAST NONSENSE. YOUR PAL WILL BE OKAY, BESIDES, YOu OPS! FORGOT MAMA WAS HERE, WHICH WASN'T AN EASY THING TO DO, SEEING AS HOW TWAS SITTING ON TOP OF HER! DON'T REALLY WANT TO LEAVE, po TIME TO YOU? ESPECIALLY TER LAST THINK AF ANC TALK FAST ! 1 AM DIFFERENT. ~ UMA TROLL! BEY 9 aed tg BUT YOU'RE GOING YEAH, A TROLL WHO'S ABOUT TO LOSE AN EAR IF HE DON'T ACT QUICKLY ! HEY, LADY, THAT WAS A THREE - CREDIT DRINK YOUR PET APE JUST KICKED IN MY FACE! HE SHOULD TO GET PLENTY OF INTERFERENCE UNTIL I FING OUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TODO ABOUT MY DRINK J BE ON A LEASH! ; “PET A Ape“ /! FARE YOU GOING TO 7 LET HIM ‘BELOVED’ IN SUCH A MANNER ? BUTT OUT, RUBE! we're HAVING A PRIVATE LITTLE LOVERS' SCRAP AND WANT NO INTERFERENCE!LOOK WHAT NO ONE TREATS US WANT TO BET YOUR. FS DELPH/ DEVILS TEETH ON THAT, LIKE THAT! eh be ONE EYE?! KNEW I COULD COUNT ON MAMA'S KEEN INTELLECT AND EYEN TEMPER TO SAVE ME FROM HER. OWN SAVAGE WRATH. I REMEMBER WHEN THIS USED TO BE ACLASS PLACE TO GET BUT AT THIS VERY t PLOWED AT! MOMENT A SMALL GUESS THAT'S ANTI-GRAVITY CRAFT, WHAT HAPPENS WHICH IS DESTINED WHEN YOU TO AFFECT THE LIFE LET JUST ANY OF OUR UNSCRUPL- KINO OF RIFF- LOUS HERO, COMES RAFF \N! TO A HALT OUTSICE THE CABARET / DRIVER, STOP! PERHAPS HERE I'LL FINO WHAT I'M _| LOOKING FOR!GOOU EVENING, WARRIOR, I CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR APPARENT VICTORY ANP WOULD SPEAK WITH YOU FOR A MOMENT, IF POSSIBLE/ THAT MIGHT B ARRANGED, PROVIDING -- ARE YOU GOING HOLY HEART FAILURE! TO STAY OuT THIS IS A PLEASURE CRUISER! THERE ALL ONE OF THOSE FANTASY MOBILES NIGHT OR WOULD THAT ALL PEGENERATES YOU LIKE TO REAM CF... COME WITH ME FOR... eS » BUT ONLY THE RICH ONES iF EVER GET A CRACK AT! --I APPROVE OF ay For Pip THE WHAT I SEE ONCE me KILLER TROLL I PEEL BACK THESE BY ONLY TALKS TO DRAPES AND GE PEOPLE HE CAN LOOK STRAIGHT IN THE EYE / . AN? THAT'S THE WAY L, HEATER DELIGHT, LIKE IT ALSO! PLEASE 7 PIP OU BOY, WHATEVER, YOU VO, PON'T WAKE uP!NICE PLACE YOU GOT HERE. BET YOUR RENT'S OUTRAGEOUG / EXTREMELY! IN FACT, THAT'S BUT A MAN OF YOUR STATURE,,, ee = : SURELY... 7 Oh, sizeHas Got UH, 4 NOTHING TO PO WITH IT, YOUSEE, TM A J) fe i a FO ARE ACL TROLLS BORN AS POWERFUL AS YOURSELF ? “BuT I WAS SOON TO DISCOVER WHAT AN EMPTY EXISTENCE I LED. ON ONE OF MY ‘AMINTING OOYSSEYS, I STUMBLED UPON AN ENCAMPMENT ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF OUR REALM! PROPOSITION?! J I'M LOOKING FOR A MAN ANONG MEN, A BOER OF DEEDS, A TRUE CHAMPION / “TI, MYSELF USED TO BE A HUMAN, ONE PRINCE GOFERN OF LAXIDAZIA ... TWO-HUNDREP- SIXTIETH IN LINE FOR THE THRONE OF AY WORLP! “THE CAMP'S OCCUPANTS PROVEP TO BE TROLLS. AND THE ANSWER. TOA LIFELONG SEARCH FOR INTELLECT ON THE SAME LEVEL AND WAVELENGTH AS MY OWN, IN OTHER WORPS: FRiIeENCS! YOU CAN BET YOUR SASH T AM! “BEING A SUPERIOR PROCUCT OF SELECTIVE INBREEDING, I PECIPED TO OCCUPY AY LIFE IN THE NOBLE CALLING OF PAINTING: STARSCAPES ! . 4 “THEY INVITED ME TO GORGE WITH THEM THAT NIGHT! WEVER HAP L BEEN TREATED TO SUCH A GOURMET PELIGHT AS THE LIKES OF THEIR DARK STEW!"NEVER HAO I DRUNK “NEVER HAD Ll DANCED “NEVER HAD I PASSED OUT WITH SUCH GUSTO! WITH SUCH ABANDON /_ SO DISGRACEFULLY ! Mi “NOR HAD I EVER AWAKENED TO ; FING AWGELF BOTH HUNG OVER . YOU'RE DESTINEP TO BE- ae AN? MNETERIOUSLY TRANSFORMED COME ONE YOURSELF / - pai. Boe ne say ~ INT T T! \ NTO A TROLL BOO A WEEK. LATER, LIKE THE TYPE OF MAN I WAS KICKE? I WANT FOR THIS OUT OF THE LITTLE JOB I NEEP LAXIPAZIAN WHAT AN > DONE ! — a OH, (T'S \ NOTHING VERY \ DIFFICULT, TA JU MATTER OF CUTTING *“T'VE SINCE LEARNE? THAT IF YOU 5 RUN WITH TROLLS LONG ENOUGH... * w A WIRE THAT HOLPS ME PRISONER. TO THIS PLEASURE CRUISER /FIRST, I BELIEVE IT 1S TIME I ADMITTEO MY OWN ALIEN, YET PEFINITE HUMANITY, FOR THE MAGU HAS SHOWN THAT I CAST SHABOWS EVEN A REFLECT LIGHT I AM NO GOD! I WELD POWER, YET, AM STILL ONLY 4 MAN. YET STILL TROUBLES |] I SHOULD BE ABLE TO RESOLVE AS A MAN. 2 CAN I24 FOR UNLIKE MOST MEN, I KNOW I'VE ONLY SHORT MONTHS LEFT TO LIVE. CAN I HOPE, ! SUCH A SHORT PERIOD TO GAIN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THIS VAMPIRE SOUL GEM I AM FORCEP TO WEAR 1» OR, MUST I CARRY THE SOULS IPREDS OF DOOMEP WRETCHE TO THE GRAVE WITH, ME ? YET, HOW CAN Ir HOPE TO MASTER THIS GEM WHEN I CANNOT EVEN COME TO TERMS WITH MY OWN MAD THOUGHTS 7 OR WITHIN MY OWN EVEREDP AMINE RESTS THE KNOWLEDGE AND MEMO- RIES OF THOSE WHOSE SOULS I HAVE STOLEN... ANC MY OTHER SELF THAT NEVER EXISTEO, | fr = THE MAGUS. ap as! m UPON MY TROUBLED BRAIN, eae eee, FOR THE MULTIPLE REALITIES VEE I NOW PERCEIVE MAY COM, fa PLETELY DISABLE ME . ; WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS... I AM LOST!Ce C. IH A HERE I CAN NO LONGER RUST MY OWN SENSES HAT HOPE PO... WHAT 2! VANISHING STARS?! SORRY, THAT'S ANOTHER STORY ENTIRELY! ONE YOULL HAVE TO WAITUNTIL NEXT ($SUE TO LEARN ABOUT! ah MEANWHILE, ISSUE'S TRUE STAR, WHO (S ABOUT TO FALL INTO AN INTERESTING - ENOUGH SITUATION TO Fill Our THIS MONTH'S COMIC. I REALIZE A PLEA TO SO, INSTEAD, I OFFER RESCUE ME FROM TO REWARCE YOU FOR FREEING ME IN A INO, REA APPENING ? THAT'S RIGHT-- I'M A SLAVE TO THIS PLEASURE CRUISER -- OR. RATHER, TO ITS OWNER, | PRO-BOSCIS/ BONDAGE FOR THE SAKE OF JUSTICE ALONE MANNER THAT WILL IS LUDICROUS, BECAUSE BENEFIT BOTH OF US MUTUALLY AND PERIVE HUMAN BONCAGE IS STILL COUITE LEGAL IN THIS SPACE -SECTOR / FOF You... 7 PO YOU THINK I CHOSE TO LEAD THIS SORT OF LIFE? I WAS SOLU INTO SLAVERY AND ( PLEASURE, huh? WELL, L THINK YOU'VE GOT ; » UNBELIEVABLE PLEASURE f , YOURSELF A DEAL,THAT'S WHERE CLIP YOU FREE WITH! WHICH MAY PROVE MORE EASILY SUBTLE |S RIGHT -- I DON'T WOULDN'T YOU KNOW (7, SAIP THAN DONE, SEEING AS HOW WANT ANY HEAD-ON COLLISION HES GOT THE WIRE WITH THAT SNIPS JAMMEC IN HIS BACK POCKET / THIS YEAR'S LOIN CLOTHS DIDN'T COME EQUIPPEP WITH POCKETS OR SIZE (8 . CASH TO CARRY IN THEM ! da Yr I GUESS A V y! (la 4 THIS REQUIRES BIT OF SUBTLE Ve YY ‘Wat as DESPERATE / ¢ THIEVERY |S a 3 Se iy MEASURES ! NOW CALLEP FOR, ; FIRST ILL JusT . THEN CAREFULLY wy PLUG HIM IN, RIP THE CORD . CONNECT THE AND WATCH THE LOOSE FROM ¥ BROKEN END U PYROTECHNICS / THIS LAMP !.. by TO OL' CHROM POME'S STOOL... IT WAS A REAL PLEASURE POING BUSINESS WITH You! ,A SHORT TIME LATER, AT A DESERTED SPor OUTSIDE THE MAIN CITY. cone Ee ENTION THE ALARM ? . IT SIGN PRO-B OH, PLEASE HURRY! «OF COURSE! AND THAT'S YES, HE KNOWS HOW TO TELEPORT / Ar lasrT! A p linn , £ rm WHO DARES TAMPE GREAT, JUST GREAT! WITH THE BR peRTy WELL, LET'S TAKE A OF PRO- LOOK AT THIS PRO-BOXKIT / THE PROCURER 7? DAMN, JUST AS I FIGUREO, HE'S MORE THAN THREE FEET TALL /!WELL... MY NAME'S P/P, THERE WILL BE NO TALKS THE PENALTY BUT I THINK IF WE YOU HAVE TRIED TO FOR SUCH AN JUST TALK THIS OUT... ROB ME, LITTLE ONE! & INDISCRETION IS DEATH ! CT YOU WERE TRICKED FFAIR BY HEATER... «. 6©O I SHALL SLAY YOU QUICKLY AN’ RAGS TAKE AS £ONG AS YOU WANT TO AILL ME...TEN, TWENTY, EVEN 160 YEARS IF YOU LIKE / WHEN YOU DECIDE, yOu'LL Sy IF NOTA KICK, I HOPE YOU AT LEAST BE ABLE TO CONTACT ME YS a ET A PUNCH OR MAYBE A GOOD BITE / AT MAMA ALPHA'S / ~ a a — = Ls = ' «» WHILE de ae ees! | POSEESS THEE OF MEETING MOM! jam — _ OF VICE !WITHIN THEM RESICES THE FORCE TO DECIMATE PLANETS / Z . AND FRENCH FRY TROLLS TOO, ruc Ber! LUCKILY, WE TROLLS HAVE PROVEN TO BE AN AGILE, IF NOT EXCEPTIONALLY BRIGHT, LOT! COULD I(T BE SHE HOPES TO SPOT A CERTAIN... IT’S NOT MY WAY TO ALLOW | YOU ASk? AN oa esau har Ok PEAR percee WITH A SUPERB ANSWE SHORTLY BE REVEALED %© You / RET wet CHECK OUT HOW PIP 1S DOING ! / WHERE ARE You, LITTLE MONKEY? “LITTLE MONKEY'S" GETTING READY FO CLOBBER YOU, MY WIGNSTEPPING HEEL! BUT I'VE LITTLE CHOICE THIS TIME, SO I MUST CONTENT MY= SELF FOR NOW WITH JUST WATCHING AND... -- WAITING FOR Pa cuent eS onceciee ISE wy PRESENCE !HOLY GOOSKH! 1 cave MIS PIP, Ol’ BOY, IT'S TIME To KNEECAP AY WORST, AND EXERCISE THAT WELL-KNOWN DION'T EVEN NOTICE IT ! ‘ | BETTER PART OF YALOR, . NAAAELY... « FLEEING IN BLIND PANIC ! THIS KID PLANS GROWING UP TO BEA COWARCLY OLO TROLL... ~ AN? TLL NEVER BE ABLE W ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL IF I GO AROUNP POING STUPID THINGS LIKE FIGNTING LIKE A MAN / NOR (IS LETTING- THIS BIG LUMMOX RUN ME INTO THE GROUND GOING TO IMPROVE MY CHANCES FOR RECORD. BREAKING LONGEVITY / THIS HAS GOT TO BE ENCEC IN E MANNER. OTHER ON THE OBVIOUS AND TERMINAL SOLUTION OL' PRO-BOSCIS HAS IN MIND ! A fd “ # A ~ fn NOW IF I CAN JUST SCALE THI es vig WALL BEFORE THAT e- L ROUNDS THAT LAST CORNER...«AND STOPS JUST WHERE I'D LIkE HIM To! al N <= INGO! * A\ é qeetanis: . LINES UP Perrectiy! rd hed ee +9 wa \ Pg he ; a Bp i Ye “WITH A WERCULEAN EFFORT HE PITTED HIS MASSIVE SINEWS AGAINST THE UNY/ELOING STONE! STRAINING... STRAINING UNTIL... JUMPING JAKOOMBAS. / oy THE WHOLE CLIFE WALL IS CRASHING ON DOWN AND I'VE A SICK. FEELING I KNOW WHATS ABOUT TO FotLow! “SO THE MIGHTY TROLL BRACED HIS STURDY FRAME BETWEEN THE CLIFF FACE... C) “.. AN? THE COLUMN OF PRECARIOUSLY BALANCED BOULDERS THAT HE HOPED TO TOPPLE ONTO HIS FOE. “IT TURNES OUT } TO BE THE CLIFF, AND NOT THE COLUMN, THAT COLLAPSED!”LEAPING, 1 DON’T Believe IT! rw... LEPROSY ! I OWE YOu SO MUCH ! BUT YOU CAN REST WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS WITHIN YOUR REWARO! MY FEELINGS ! HERE IT COMES NOW! J THAT REWARD YOu SPOKE OF EARLIER WILL BE ENOUGH, m / I WISHTO THANKS! GIVE YOU MY PLEASURE CRUISER, FOR I'M NOW OFFICIALLY OUT OF THE vice Business! JUST LET ME “ REST A MOMENT... } EXACTLY / REALLY? JUST THE WHAT 0/0 YOU REWARD.., \ HAVE IN MING 7AH! 4 TRUE HUAAANI TARIAN / a >. a4 BUT, ALAS, WE MUST QUICKLY I WAS SO WORRIEC MY FRIEND, I THANK YOU OV@ THAT SOMETHING FOR FREEING HEATER FOR DEAART, PIP, FOR THE STARS HAD 9YY@ HAPPENED / ME, EVEN THOUGH I FEEL AND ROMANCE BECKON! To YOU GO Y@! I WAS QUITE CAPABLE OF P , COING THE SAME! AGAIN THANK You OH, BUTI DIDNT VR bh FAREWEct / WANT TO CHANCE J HAVING THAT | BEAUTIFUL FACE OF HIS BRUISED! YES, REALLY DISGUGTING! SOON ASI FIGURE THE MOST PAINFUL WAN TO DO IT I'M GONNA LOCATE AND KILL THEM TWO / BUT IN THE MEANTIME, SO I THINK I'D MORE URGENT MATTERS BEST ACCEPT ARE DIGGING THEIR. HEATER'S GENEROSITY AND WAY FREE ! DISAPPEAR INTO THE VOID... SAY, I WONPER WHAT'S IN- SICPE THIS HOOKAH ?