"The City of Toads"
Edited, written & drawn by Jack Kirby
Inker & Letterer- Mike Royer
Consulting Editor- Archie Goodwin

SUMMARY

A masked Deviant faces others in combat while Brother Tode himself watches. The masked one, called "Reject" defeats his foes, killing several of them. He is then taken before Brother Tode for judgement, and the mask is removed from his face. To the Deviants, he is ugly beyond hope. But to us, he appears to be a normal human being!

Tode:"IF THIS DEVIANT IS UNWORTHY TO LIVE, IT CAN ONLY BE PROVEN IN COMBAT! THEREFORE, WE MUST FIND AN OPPONENT WHO CAN DEFEAT HIM!! THIS IS THE DECREE OF TODE!!"

Back in New York City, Kro & Thena share a revealing chat:

Kro:"In a bygone age we were MORE than mere friends, Thena! We learned that YOU, an Eternal, and I, a Deviant, could find common ground for--"

Thena:"It was NOT to be, Kro!! At best, we can be nothing more than FRIENDS!"

Kro:"NOT SO! In truth, I am a Deviant and the inheritor of traits you fear and HATE! Yet, you know me to be noble, wise, and brave-- all qualities you encourage!"

Thena:"The gulf between us is too wide, Kro!! TOO WIDE!"

Kro:"The passing centuries have NARROWED the gap! Let me prove it, Thena!"

Thena:"You're MAD, Kro! WE ARE WHAT WE ARE! Why won't you ACCEPT it!?"

Kro:"Because I DARE to hope-- and I ask the same of YOU!! Believe with me, Thena-- follow me an witness a MIRACLE!"

Thena:"Once before I went beneath the waters with you. Mythology records it as an UNHAPPY story!"

Still, Thena agrees to go with him.

At Sam Holden's apartment, Holden marvels at a set of busts he's made- one of a Deviant, one of a human, and one of an Eternal.

Ikaris:"As an Eternal, I can only say I'm NOT inspired."

Margo:"As a human, I think the beard looks kind of CUTE!"

Sersi doesn't care for the display- so she gives the busts some funny hats!

Sersi:"Now...THAT'S how to HOLD an audience, Samuel!! It's unfortunate I was TOO LATE to keep this one from DESERTING you!"

It's just then that Holden realizes Margo, Ikaris & Makkari have left. Sersi checks the terrace, and finds that Kro and Thena have departed in Kro's shuttle.

Holden:"I-I don't suppose all this SAYS much for my talent as a host. I-I've simply RUINED our evening!"

Sersi:"Not OUR evening! I find you fascinating, Doctor Sam Holden! And I aim to DO something about it!!"

Sersi turns the furniture into a band, and invites Dr. Holden to dance!

Kro proudly brings Thena to the City of Toads, and all Deviants behave in a cordial fashion- save a green, misshapen figure who touches her arm. A pair of guards, identifying him as a "Reject", arrive to carry him off.

Kro:"AWAY WITH YOU BOTH!! HURRY! Lest this creature's sight offend our ROYAL visitor!"

Thena:"POOR THING! He offends me NOT! If anything, the plight of malformed birth makes him the victim, and FATE the villain!"

Guard:"He'll soon be RID of his misery! Strange how his kind seems to sense the coming of PURITY TIME!"

Thena asks what "Purity Time" means, but Kro quickly shakes her off, not wanting to spoil his chance at freeing his race from their structural instability. However, before they can leave, a "Death Wagon" passes by, it's cargo in the back displayed to all through a flass cage. This truck carries away Deviants- the most misshapen of them all! Kro must now confess all- he points to a structure spewing fire in the distance. That is the final destination of the Death Wagon.

Meanwhile, the Reject is given a suit of flexible armor for his upcoming battle...but he grabs a weapon and tries to escape- as one of the prisons is broken open...

In Brother Tode's court, Kro presents Thena:

Kro:"HAIL to great Tode and the ruling family! I bring an ETERNAL-- in a NEW effort at friendship between our two species."

Onlooker:"HAH! He seeks only to renew his DALLYING with this THENA!"

Thena refuses to bow before Tode.

Tode:"Eternals are NOTORIOUS for POOR diplomacy!"

Tode tells Thena that they have entertainment planned- a battle to the death. Thena is unimpressed, but Tode points out:

Tode:"Well, I'll have you know that killing serves a PRACTICAL purpose here!! It rids us of the UNWANTED! Yet, they do not die without VALOR! They perish as do heroes in our own fighting forces!"

Thena:"HAIL TO THE HEROES. Sit down, Kro. I'll muddle through this mess without gagging."

Kro:"PATIENCE, Thena. We seek to change a MILLENIUM--"

Thena:"Don't tell me the other axiom...that 'CHANGE IS PRECEEDED BY DESTRUCTION'!"

Kro:"Simmer down, female! I know that you love a good fight! I warrant you'll find this exciting!"

The Reject is brought in, still clenching the weapon he stole. He hails Kro and Thena.

Reject[thinks]:"S-she looks as I do-- yet she sits with ROYALTY!"

Kro:"THERE, Thena! That's what I wanted you to see! This Deviant is a reject of a kind we've NEVER produced before!"

Thena:"H-he's handsome by ANY standard! Are you SURE that he's a Deviant??"

But then, the Reject's foe enters- a large red monstrosity named Karkas!

Thena fears that the Reject, the only beautiful thing in all of Lemuria will be killed, but can only watch as the battle begins!

Next: The rip-roaring Reject vs. that indestructible killing machine- Karkas! Place your bets!

COMMENTS

Kro is mis-spelt "Krona" on the cover. What exactly was the letterer smoking?

Nice issue, by the by. The City looks absolutely excellent. I suppose Kirby realized that, since he devoted an entire page to one shot of it...