VANDAL THE BARBARIAN

Real Name: Vandal

Identity/Class: Human ("Dawn of the Age of Legend"; see comments)

Occupation: Adventurer, mercenary, pirate

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Pit Tippit, Princess Lissal, Trolkin 

Enemies: Arak, Arak's creations, Beast-Men

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: An unknown ancient land (see comments)

First Appearance: Tower of Shadows#7/3 (September 1970)

 

Powers/Abilities: Vandal is an excellent swordsman and fighter in general.

 

Height: 6' (by estimation)
Weight: 180 lbs. (by estimation)
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Black

 

History:
(Tower of Shadows#7/3 (fb) - BTS) - Vandal the Barbarian was a wandering mercenary, rogue and pirate whose name had come to stand for destruction and pillage. While traveling with two companions, the elf Pit Tippit and cursed dwarf Trolkin, his party was attacked by Beast-Men, who continued to pursue them to the edge of the known world.

 

 (Tower of Shadows#7/3) - The three adventurers fought attacking Beast-Men as they retreated across a rock bridge into a new valley, but as soon as the crossed it the Beast-Men withdrew. Vandal wondered if their pursuers had finally decided he and his friends were too much trouble, and Pit finished his thought, "or what lies ahead is so terrible that even they fear it."

   The trio continued into the valley, finding to their surprise that the forest below was full of strangely posed statues, leading Vandal to wonder aloud who would make all these only to leave them in such an unusual location. Climbing a tree for a better vantage point, Pit warned his fellows that there were a group of men running their way, so Vandal suggested they take cover. At this comment an unexpected voice called out, as a young woman who had been hiding inside a hollow in the trunk of a large tree revealed her presence and suggested they avail themselves of her refuge urgently. As he climbed into the hideaway Vandal declared that a lone woman would be less of a threat than a group of men anyway, but the woman explained that the men were not enemies, but her friends. Confused, Vandal asked her why they were hiding if that was the case, and she explained that her friends were running from Arak. As the group watched from within their concealment, they witnessed the woman's friends race into the clearing pursued by a grotesque flying man who then blasted his fleeing prey with light emanating from his hands, turning the unfortunates into stone.

 

   With her friends now beyond any help, the woman led Vandal and his friends down a flight of steps within the tree to an underground home. Once safely ensconced, Vandal asked their savior for details about Arak and the situation in general. The woman introduced herself as Princess Lissal, and explained that they had just witnessed the last of her people being turned to stone by Arak, a menace who had simply arrived in the region one day and had begun to prey on the residents. To his own surprise, Vandal volunteered to help, suggesting that if they could sneak into Lissal's castle, where Arak now resided, they might be able to take him by surprise. However, as they began to discuss their strategy, planning to split into two groups to attempt access through the castle's two entrances, they were unaware that via magic Arak was watching and listening from afar to everything they said.

 

   While Pit and Lissal took a subterranean route, Vandal and Trolkin took the trees surface exit only to find themselves immediately attacked by a hideous creature composed of fifty humanoid torsos seemingly merged into a single mass of grasping insanity. As Vandal tried to fight off the clawing hands, he shouted to Trolkin to make a run for the castle, but before his friend could do so a giant bird swooped down and carried off the transformed dwarf in its talons. Vandal continued to battle the nightmare sentinel, slowly backing his way up towards the rock bridge out of the valley, but as he entered a passage between two rocky cliffs Arak swooped down behind him and turned Vandal to stone.

 

   Though Arak had already done the same to Pit and Lissal in the tunnels under the castle, luckily for all concerned (except Arak), when the sorcerer tried to petrify the last member of the party, Trolkin, the spell rebounded because of his pre-existing curse; Arak thus accidentally turned himself to stone, and fell from the sky to shatter on the ground below. With Arak's death, everyone else was restored to flesh and blood, including Vandal. To thank her kingdom's saviors and celebrate her people's restoration, Lissal threw a banquet in the adventurers' honor. As the people toasted Vandal and his friends for saving them, Lissal leaned against the barbarian seductively and opined that she didn't know how she could ever repay him. Though clearly enjoying the feminine attention, Vandal kept his eyes on the prize, and responded that he was sure they could think of something, before asking "How much gold do you have?"

 

Comments: Created by Wally Wood.

   Vandal is described as adventuring during the "Dawn of the Age of Legend" in an era when when elves and ogres dwelt among men. That could mean he comes from before the Hyborian era or even pre-Cataclysmic Atlantis, but it's also possible he hails from another dimension, such as Weirdworld.

   This profile was completed 09/17/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary's celebratory event.

 Profile by Loki.

 CLARIFICATIONS:
Vandal the Barbarian has no known connections to:

images: (without ads)
Tower of Shadows#7/3, p3, pan6 (main image)
Tower of Shadows#7/3, p1, pan2 (headshot)
Tower of Shadows#7/3, p1, pan1 (fighting Beast-Men)
Tower of Shadows#7/3, p2, pan1 (with Pit and Trolkin)
Tower of Shadows#7/3, p6, pan4 (turned to stone)
Tower of Shadows#7/3, p7, pan6 (without helmet)

Appearances:
Tower of Shadows#7/3 (September 1970) - Wally Wood (writer, art), Stan Lee (editor)

First Posted: 09/18/2021
Last updated: 09/17/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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