Trigo’s nephew, Janno, was enjoying a holiday at a remote part of the Great Ocean coast.

This is the life!

Then he received a message on his personal contact-set.

This is an urgent Imperial summons. Lord Janno will return to Trigan City at once and report to the palace.

Arriving in his uncle’s throne room, he found his family and the Imperial Council already assembled.

What’s the matter, Father?

Some fellow has smashed the Stone of Vorg with his bare fist and therefore can lay claim to the throne!

Trigo called for silence. Then he spoke gravely.

What shall be my course of action? Is it my duty to remain Emperor and serve my people as only I know best, or must I relinquish my crown to he who calls himself Z?

Give me your views.

Long live the Emperor Trigo!

To Daveli with Z!

Perish all pretenders!

We want no stranger ruling us!

I thank you for your loyal support. However, I must give the matter careful thought. I shall depart into the wilderness for a while and, when I return, I will make known my decision.























The two conspirators, Zacho and Serro, muttered to each other.

What now?

Before we take the next step, we must assure ourselves that our thickheaded friend is going to co-operate.

The stranger, Z, had been given an apartment in the guards’ barracks. Zacho and Serro visited him there.

Now see here, my friend, you are a fellow of no education. A simple soldier of fortune, by the look of you. You wouldn’t last half a day as Emperor of Trigan.

What my colleague is trying to say is—you’re going to need our support to get the crown, and you’re going to need our support to keep it!

I understand. You have me crowned Emperor, and you will be rewarded.

That night, in a seedy quarter of the city, money changed hands.

There must be no mistake.

When me and my fellows eliminate someone, he stays eliminated!

At dawn the following day, Trigo was far into the rolling wilderness of Vorg.

How shall I decide . . . how?

They were upon him before he had time to defend himself.

Yaaaaaaaaa!

Cut him down!

The Emperor of the Trigans was struck from his mount.

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 670 on 16 November 1974.

Overcome with awe and wonder, the onlookers in the Great Square fell on their knees.

The prophecy has come true!

The new Emperor of all the Trigans.

The object of their veneration smiled wryly.

Emperor of the Trigans! That would be quite something.

Trigo was at breakfast when the news was brought to him.

Imperial Majesty! Some fellow has smashed the stone of Vorg with his bare fist!

Rubbish!

It was some time before the officer could convince his Emperor that the impossible had, in fact, happened.

What is to be done, Sire?

Get hold of some members of the Imperial Council. Ask them to question this stranger, find out who he is and so forth.

So it was that Zacho and Serro, two members of the council, questioned the stranger.

Who are you, fellow, and from where do you hail?

What is your occupation?

Call me . . . Z!

The Captain of the Imperial Guard could tolerate the stranger’s insolence no longer.

You have used sorcery to smash the stone, but your sorcery will not take the crown from my Emperor’s head.

Look your last upon the sky, animal.























Ya-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-aaahhhh!!

The sword of he who called himself Z sped to its owner’s hand too swiftly for the eye to follow. Blade met blade—SHATTERINGLY.

And then . . .

E-e-e-e-e-a-a-aaaaggghh!

Zacho and Serro muttered together.

He is . . . impressive!

He is quick and strong, I grant you. But a stupid and illiterate fellow. I think we can handle him, my friend.

The prophecy will be fulfilled! We will offer this dolt the Imperial Crown and set him up as a puppet, while we rule the Trigan Empire for our own personal benefit!

What if Trigo refuses to abdicate in his favour?

Then Trigo will have to be quietly . . . eliminated!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 669 on 9 November 1974.

One memorable day, a stranger came out of the wilderness. Although he was simply dressed, he bore himself like a leader of warriors.

He dismounted at a kerbside inn and ate his simple meal in silence.

Later, crossing the Great Square of the city, the stranger espied a great boulder planted there.

He hailed a passer-by.

Tell me, fellow, what is that doing here?

Why, that is the stone of Vorg! I will tell you its story . . .

“Many lunar years ago, before the foundation of the empire, Targo, the father of the Emperor Trigo and a great chief among the Vorgs, was lost while hunting In the hills” . . .

I shall never reach camp now. It will be a chill night in the open for me.

“Targo made a fire and prepared some food. Presently . . .”

Who comes? Friend or foe?

I come in peace.























“By his raiment, Targo recognised the newcomer as a sootha, or wandering wise-man.”

My son, spare a morsel to eat for a poor wanderer, and you will not regret it.

Be seated, master. Half of what I have is gladly yours.

“The meal over, the sootha made an astounding prediction to the Vorg chief . . .”

You have a son and he will lead your people to an unheard-of greatness. He will become the principal ruler of all the planet Elekton, until . . .

Until when, master?

“The sootha pointed.”

Until he who is able to smite that stone asunder with one blow of his fist, comes and takes your son’s Imperial crown from him!

“It was the Emperor Trigo himself who, many years later, had the stone brought to his own capital city and set up in the Great Square.”

That stone shall stand here, as a reminder to me that I must always rule you justly and well. If I fail in my task, may the prophecy be fulfilled . . .may he who can smite the stone asunder come and take my Imperial crown from me!

The story ended, the stranger gazed at the stone of Vorg.

Of course, it would be impossible to break the stone, even with a war-club, let alone with the bare fist.

I wonder . . .

Before the astonished gaze of the passers-by, the stranger raised his fist and brought it down.

Hah!

 . . . Huh!

He’s done it!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 668 on 2 November 1974.