The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #1
Written by John Byrne
Art by Terry Austin
Letters by Joe Rosen
Colors by Bob Sharen
Marvel Comics
January 1983

On Free Comic Book Day this year, my local comic book shop gave its first 50 customers a copy of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #1, the first issue of the Marvel comic book series released in January of 1983.

Ah, 1983, it was a great year. I was halfway through the fifth grade and had just gotten my first Levi’s denim jacket. The majority of my time was spent singing in the glee club, playing punchball, listening to AC/DC’s Back In Black, and watching Star Wars (taped off broadcast television, with commercials and all).

This was around the time my serious obsession with Harrison Ford began. No, not a schoolgirl crush (that was reserved for Mark Hamill), but rather a fascination with him as an actor and with all of the characters he played — Han Solo, Rick Deckard, and one Indiana Jones.

While Raiders of the Lost Ark was one of my favorite movies back then (and now), I unfortunately, I missed out on Marvel’s 34-issue run of this Indiana Jones comic book series.

This first issue, titled “The Ikons of Ikammanen”, opens with Dr. Marcus Brody walking in on Indy in archaeology professor mode practicing his whip-cracking techniques on a female student! (Don’t worry, she got extra credit.)

Back at his office, Indy meets with a former student named Charlie Dunne, who claims that he and his sister Edith have discovered the Ikons of Ikammanen — statues capable of becoming living avengers. What happens next leads Indy to the young Edith in the northwest African coastal town of Krikambo, Liberia. Once there, the two are forced by the “business man” Soloman Black to embark on a quest to recover the legendary Ikons.

Of course, the story ends on a cliffhanger. And since I don’t have any of the other issues, this is quite frustrating, especially since the story arc is completed in the next issue “22-Karat Doom!”.

Bummer.

Because I totally loved this issue. I can imagine how much more I would have loved it back then in the pre-trilogy days. Writer John Bryne revives the fedora-wearing global adventurer, giving him the perfect amount of sarcasm and know-how — and even has him call out for his old flame Marion — to feel like a natural extension of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Now, if only I had the remaining 33 issues, I’d be quite happy. I think it might be time for some eBay browsing.