The Trigan Empire

The ring of blade on blade resounded through the great courtyard of the Imperial Palace.

Ha!

The rascally Zacho and Serro watched from a balcony above.

Our fine new Emperor knows how to defend himself.

He is all brawn and no intelligence. The fellow can neither read nor write, and he will put his signature to anything.

The uneven contest of sword-practice came to a sudden and dramatic climax . . .

. . . and a thrilling finish!

Hola!

After sword-practice, the new Emperor attended to business of state.

Two small matters requiring your signature, Imperial Majesty.

Oh, yes . . .

As always, he signed with a cross.

How small are these matters, Zacho?

Minor details concerning trade in the outer provinces, Imperial Majesty. Hardly worth your attention.

Outside the Imperial apartments . . .

Excellent! This first order permits both of us to take as much money as we need from the Imperial Treasury!

The second order says that every citizen of the empire must pay one-third of his possessions into the Imperial Treasury. Neat, eh?

Very neat, my dear Zacho! We simply take over one-third of the empire’s wealth!























The tax on one-third of a citizen’s possessions caused riots in the city.

Down with the tyrant!

Bring back Trigo!

In the end, everybody paid. Some paid peacefully, but with reluctance.

I am the merchant Rocca—and I bring three thousand thullars.

Rocca—three thousand thullars.

Next!

Others resisted the ruinous tax—to their cost!

Says he has no money, eh? What about . . . this?

You will pay the required one-third, plus an extra third for concealing your fortune and making a false statement to officers of the Imperial Crown!

Meanwhile, far out across the barren wilderness of Vorg, a party of desert warriors came in sight of their city. With them was a prisoner.

The prisoner had lost his memory. Unknown to his captors, he was the rightful Emperor of the Trigans.

Who is he?

A Trigan animal! We found him lying out in the desert. He will make a useful slave.

Take him away, and to make sure that he doesn’t escape, blind him!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 672 on 30 November 1974.

At midday, Imperial Guards roughly drove people from their houses and into the Great Square of the city.

Hey! What’s going on?

Why are we being treated like animals?

By order of the Imperial Council, all citizens are to assemble to hear an important proclamation.

Later, one of the conspirators, Zacho, spoke to the people.

It is the will of the Imperial Council that, as Trigo has declared that he would relinquish his Imperial Crown to he who smashed the Stone of Vorg, the stranger called Z be crowned Emperor.

Janno’s voice rose in angry protest!

That’s not true! My uncle did not say he would give away his crown unconditionally. We must await his return from the wilderness!

Zacho hissed to the guards’ commander . . .

Have him struck down . . . and earn yourself promotion.

Instantly, my lord!

Janno was silenced . . . and his father with him!

By all the stars!

Not so fast, Lord Brag!

Uuuugh!

There was no further protest. Before the eyes of the assembled multitude, the stranger who had come out of the wilderness was crowned with the Imperial diadem of the Trigan Empire.

By virtue of the authority of the Imperial Council, I proclaim you Lord of life and death over the peoples of the Empire!

Immediately after the ceremony, Zacho and Serro brought their “puppet Emperor” to his study.

We expect no trouble from the rest of the council, but the former Imperial Family must be put under restraint. Here is an order to that effect. If your Majesty will please sign . . .























Z signed with a cross, a fact that did not escape the two sneering conspirators.

As a result of the Imperial order, Janno and Brag were taken to the dank vaults beneath the palace . . .

You can’t do this to us!

Throw them in here.

Father and son were hurled into a dark cell, there to brood over the fate of the empire.

What will happen to Uncle Trigo when he returns?

If he returns. I’ve a feeling that they’ve done for him already!

Far out across the barren wilderness of Vorg, a band of savage warriors were journeying to their desert city. They espied a still form in the distance.

See!

It was the deposed Emperor of the Trigans, left for dead by the ruffians who had ambushed him.

He is a Trigan, I can tell by his raiment.

What is your name, Trigan animal? Speak!

I . . . I . . .

What hope remained for the Trigan Empire? Its founder and true leader had lost all memory of his identity!

I don’t know my name, or who I am!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 671 on 23 November 1974.

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.