Tor: Joe Kubert’s Prehistoric Odyssey

Tor: A Prehistoric Odyssey, written and drawn by Joe Kubert, DC Comics

♦ We shine a light on a graphic novel by a master of the comics form. Joe Kubert.

Kubert was an editor, a writer, an artist and even a teacher, whose Kubert School is still training the comic artists of tomorrow nearly forty years after it was founded.

Tor was created by Kubert and Norman Maurer in the story 1,000,000 Years Ago! (Sept. 1953), published by St. John Publications. The protagonist of the series, Tor, is a cave man, and the concept is Tor having adventures set in a prehistoric, but realistically drawn, setting. At St. John the series ran for only five issues, ending in 1954. Kubert would return to Tor throughout his career, first at DC Comics in the 197os then at Marvel Comics, and later for other publishers. In a way Tor’s Odyssey is mirrored in Kubert’s long and impressive career,

This collection reprints the six issue series published by DC in 2008, and what’s amazing is that Kubert (who sadly died in 2012) was still at the height of his artistic powers this late in his extraordinary career. The story is a simple one: caveman Tor is thrown into an unfamiliar place and encounters a series of different perils including a dinosaur and cave-dwellers. The plot is basic but Kubert was such an exquisite storyteller, able to infuse his work with rare emotion, that the reader just enjoys the journey. The colouring by Pete Carlsson really enhances Kubert’s art too. Kubert has managed to create an exciting adventure story in a world fraught with danger. He was a one of a kind and his presence is still missed. Tor: A Prehistoric Odyssey is a great read for people who enjoy adventure stories with exceptional art and unparalleled storytelling.

Tor Trade Paperback

DC Comics

Tor A Prehistoric Odyssey TP