Race of Scorpions
by Leo Duranona
Dark Horse comics 1990
Leo Duranona is an Argentinian artist who did work for comics from Warren, Marvel, and Dark Horse.
In 1990 he published this 48-page, full-color, owner-created comic: 'Race of Scorpions', with Dark Horse.
'Race of Scorpions' is set on a far-future Earth in the aftermath of an eco-catastrophe that has left the entire planet a desert.
A young boy named Dito, a girl named Alma, and a mysterious man known only as The Stranger find their paths intersecting when a treasure - in the form of an underground lake - is discovered.
The trio embark on a series of adventures that pits them against Sand Pirates, an evil Emperor, and an army marching on the gates of the Golden City.
'Race of Scorpions' features some very nice artwork, in the European bande dessinee / Heavy Metal style, from Duranona. Unfortunately, the printing process and lower grade of paper used by Dark Horse back in those days gives the artwork a lower-res quality.
Duranona's script isn't exactly the easiest to follow. Some conversations clearly lost something in the translation, and the narrative suffers from too few framing passages. However, the story does come together in the end, and does about as much as any story can do within the format of a 48 page, one-shot book.
All in all, it's a nice little sci-fi comic, and if you are a fan of the European and South American artists showcased in the pages of Heavy Metal in the 70s and 80s, then it's worth picking up. Copies in good condition can be had for under $6 including shipping and handling.
(Duranona did several follow-up volumes in this series that also can be acquired for reasonable prices.)
UPDATE: below are some (hopefully spoiler-free) panels from Book Two of 'Race of Scorpions'.
