DC Comics; May-June 1975 
Cover by Ernie Chan (as Ernie Chua)

Title: “The Sword and the Silent Scream”
Synopsis: A demon-handed barbarian named Valcan wards off several assassination attempts initiated by a sinister king.

Writer: David Michelinie
Penciler: Ernie Chan (as Ernie Chua)
Inker: Chan

Review: Claw the Unconquered #1 proves to be a tough comic to grade, as it is unexceptional in almost every way. David Michelinie’s by-the-book barbarian tale offers little in the way of originality; it’s bland to the extreme, but not offensively so. Similarly, Ernie Chan’s art brings little to the mix: it’s serviceable, but not memorable. Both story and art seem content going through the motions, cataloging barbarian tropes without adding anything new. Claw might hope to be a B-list Conan, but his debut earns no better than a C.

Grade: C

Cool factor: Let’s go with the bright pink cover. Nothing says barbarian badness quite like a bright pink cover!
Not-so-cool factor: Hmm … not sure this book even wants to be cool.

Notable: First appearance of Claw. … The “Of Swordsmen and Sorcerers” letters page includes a biographical essay about David Michelinie.

Character quotable: “Right now, girl, your charms mean less to me than a good horse!” — Claw the Unlovable

Copyright ©2016 Off the Wahl Productions, all rights reserved. Each week, T. Andrew Wahl takes a look at a Bronze Age Fantastic First. For more reviews like this one, check out Wahl's website, SequentialReaction.com.