Indiana Jones may have hung up his fedora on the big screen, but his adventures are far from over. One of the biggest surprises at Lucasfilm Publishing’s San Diego Comic-Con panel came when Marvel Comics announced Indiana Jones and the Sword of Pandemonium, an all-new five-issue limited series arriving Dec. 9.
The comic marks the beginning of a new era for Indiana Jones at Marvel, placing the legendary archaeologist back in his classic timeline shortly after the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Written by Jason Aaron (Star Wars, Thor) with artwork by Aaron Kuder, the series reunites Indy with Marion Ravenwood as the pair races across the globe in pursuit of a mysterious biblical relic known as the Sword of Pandemonium.
According to Marvel, the story begins after Indy’s victory over the Nazis in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Humiliated by their defeat, several of his greatest enemies—including the shocking return of a longtime archenemy, begin searching for a terrifying new source of supernatural power after the artifact falls into Marion’s possession.
What follows sounds exactly like the kind of serial-inspired adventure that made Indiana Jones a cinematic icon: ancient crypts, globe-trotting expeditions, supernatural mysteries and plenty of whip-cracking escapes.
Aaron admitted writing Indiana Jones is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
“I’ve wanted to adventure alongside Indiana Jones since I was 8 years old,” Aaron said during Marvel’s announcement. “This is the Indy of Raiders of the Lost Ark, fresh off his harrowing experience on the island of Geheimhaven… For Indy and Marion Ravenwood, the globe-trotting, punching, whip-cracking and death-defying escapades—not to mention the archaeology—have just begun.”
Artist Aaron Kuder said the character feels naturally suited for comics.
“Indy has always felt like he should be a staple comic-book character.”
That sentiment isn’t without history.
Marvel originally published The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones throughout the 1980s, extending the archaeologist’s exploits beyond the films with stories from legendary creators including David Michelinie, Walt Simonson, John Byrne and John Buscema.
Marvel also confirmed those classic adventures are returning in deluxe hardcover collections this September, giving longtime fans a chance to revisit Indy’s original comic-book adventures before the new series debuts.
Visually, The Sword of Pandemonium already looks like an event. The first issue features a main cover by Bryan Hitch, along with variant covers by Alex Ross and Aaron Kuder.
Perhaps the smartest creative decision, however, is when the story takes place.
Rather than attempting to continue Indy’s story after Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Marvel is returning to the character’s prime, when Harrison Ford’s adventurous archaeologist was racing Nazis, deciphering ancient mysteries and balancing skepticism with increasingly impossible supernatural discoveries.
It’s a period fans know and love, but one with plenty of room for untold adventures.
If the creative team captures even a fraction of the spirit that made Raiders of the Lost Ark one of cinema’s greatest adventure films, Indiana Jones may have found his perfect next medium.
Indiana Jones and the Sword of Pandemonium #1 arrives in comic shops on Dec. 9.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
