Origin
Desperate to find the lost heir of the throne or Ormuz, Garth, a soldier, travels the world to find Malu and bring her home to her father, the King of Ormuz.
Creation
Drawn by Howard Larsen.
Major Story Arcs
After much traveling, Garth finds the city of Tarko, the home of the people that attacked Ormuz and stole the king’s daughter. He tries to gain entry by subtle means but is soon found to be a spy. He is taken before the King of Tarko but refuses to answer any questions. He is imprisoned. That night he is approached by a slave girl and he is surprised to learn that she is Malu. He vows to get her out of Tarko but the two are caught. The king condemns them to death in his lion’s pit. Garth prepares to fight for their lives but Malu finds a secret door out of the arena. Garth flees with Malu as the lions tear through the city. Some Tarkanians follow them into the mountains but Garth has the idea to cause an avalanche of boulders, killing everyone below.
Garth leads Malu through the mountains and they take refuge in a city. They learn from a slave girl that the king Thuz is really an usurper, the rightful crown belonging to a boy king. Garth tries to leave with Malu but Thuz stops them and invites them to a banquet. Garth is seized at the banquet but he fights his way to Malu. He then leads the slaves in a revolt in which Thuz is killed and the boy king is restored to his throne. As an act of gratitude, the boy king allows Garth and Malu to travel in safety to Ormuz with his caravans.
On the trail, Garth is confronted by Malu about his feelings for her. He is unable to express his love, as he feels unworthy being a lowly soldier to her station as a princess. She storms away angry and he is loathe to learn that she is kidnapped by bandits of Tal Azmut. The caravan fears following the bandits so Garth sets out on his own to find Malu. He finds a secret hideout and frees Malu. They are discovered and attacked by the bandits and Garth once again fights his way out with Malu. He kills every bandit, minus Tal Azmut, by toppling their statues. Garth then leads Malu to Ormuz.
Garth and Malu are seized in Ormuz before he can present her to the king. Garth is bound and tossed into a holding area and he recognizes the accouterments of Phao, the king’s brother. He feigns sickness and then overpowers his guard and escapes to a friend’s house. The men design a plan that Garth carries out in which he takes a large sum of many to the slave market of Manoch. He buys Malu and takes her before the king. Phao is prepared, however, and has Manoch testify that Malu has been a slave for him for years. The king is very upset, especially at seeing his signet in Phao’s hands (which he had taken before selling Malu) and orders Garth banned from the kingdom. He is made a slave on Phao’s ship.
Garth struggles with his role as a slave. He aims to escape and does so by spilling his water on the wood holding his shackles. This softens the wood and he hopes an opportunity presents itself in which he can bust free. This opportunity occurs when a pirate ship attacks Phao’s boat. Garth bursts free and overcomes a guard. He then frees the other slaves and they attack. Garth finds Phao and challenges him. Malu is there as Phao’s personal slave and Garth fights for her. Phao gets scared and tries to climb the ship’s mast. Garth watches him fall to his death. Garth then has to fight a pirate that claims Malu for his own. Garth defeats him after a mighty battle and he and Malu decide to jump into the sea instead of fall captive to the pirates.
Garth and Malu wash ashore in a strange country and are immediately seized and brought the queen of Zankhara, Shala. She keeps Garth as a personal assistant and has Malu be her slave. Shala becomes attracted to Garth and makes a pass at him and Malu catches her. Garth watches in horror as Malu is cast into prison. He finds a way to break in but gets caught and must remain with Malu in the Tower of Indecision.
The Tower of Indecision yields dangerous monsters but Garth and Malu are able to escape. They find the regular prison, as well as Shala’s brother Gaddo who knows a secret way out. They flee to Tirza, home of Tirza, sister of Shala. Garth leads an army against Zankhara and overthrows Shala. Tirza is so grateful for Garth’s assistance that she makes him ruler of the city of Zankhara.
Garth’s fate is unknown because the series ends after the second issue.