View source for Turok

{{Short description|Fictional character}}
{{other uses|Turok (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| character_name = Turok
| image          = File:Turok comic first issue logo.png
| caption        = Logo of the ''Turok'' comic series starting with the [[Valiant Comics]] run
| publisher      = [[Western Publishing]] through licensee [[Dell Comics]]
| debut          = ''[[Four Color Comics]]'' #596 (October/November 1954)
| creators       = 
| alter_ego      = 
| full_name      = 
| species        = [[Human]]
| homeworld      = [[Earth]]
| alliances      = <!-- optional -->
| partners       = <!-- optional -->
| supports       = <!-- optional -->
| aliases        = <!-- optional -->
| powers         =
* Olympic-level athlete
* Master archer, knife fighter, marksman, hunter, tracker, wilderness survivalist
| cat            = super
| subcat         = 
| hero           = y
| sortkey        = 
}}

'''Turok''' is a fictional character who first appeared in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Western Publishing]] through licensee [[Dell Comics]]. He first appeared in ''[[Four Color Comics]]'' #596 (October/November 1954).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Markstein |first1=Don |website=Don Markstein's Toonopedia |access-date=2 April 2020 |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/turok.htm |title=Turok, Son of Stone}}</ref> After a second ''Four Color'' appearance (#656 October 1955), the character graduated to his own title – '''''Turok, Son of Stone''''' (#3 March–May 1956) – published by both Dell and then [[Gold Key Comics]] from 1956 to 1982. Subsequently, he appeared in titles published by [[Valiant Comics]], [[Dark Horse Comics]] and [[Dynamite Comics]].

The character also inspired a popular [[Turok (video game series)|video game series]], starting with ''[[Turok: Dinosaur Hunter]]'', published by [[Acclaim Entertainment]] in 1997. Several sequels would be released in the following years for various gaming [[video game console|consoles]].

==Publishing history==
===Western Publishing===
[[Image:Turok-son-of-stone-comic.jpg|thumb|''Turok: Son of Stone'' #93 (November 1974 cover) (copy of ''Dell'' #19 (March–May 1960))]]

The original comic, titled ''Turok, Son of Stone'', was illustrated by Rex Maxon. The writer-creator credit for the characters of Turok and Andar is disputed,<!--NOTE: The Toonopedia link CITED here says Matthew H. Murphy--> with historians citing Matthew H. Murphy, [[Gaylord Du Bois]], and [[Paul S. Newman]] as the feature's earliest writers.

The Western Publishing version of Turok was a [[Pre-Columbian era]] [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] (identified as [[Mandan]] in the first issue, on page 21 and 32 of ''Dell Four Color'' #596) who, along with his brother, Andar, finds himself lost in an isolated valley populated by [[dinosaur]]s. Turok refers to many of the prehistoric animals as "honkers" or by their most obvious characteristics ([[Tyrannosaurus rex|tyrannosaurus]] are called "runners", [[pterosaur]]s are called "flyers", [[velociraptors]] are "screamers", [[Elasmosaurus|plesiosaurs]] are "sea demons", ''[[Triceratops]]'' are "rammers", etc.). The Du Bois stories involve Turok and Andar seeking a way out of the valley. Du Bois was influenced by his visits to [[Carlsbad Caverns]] in [[New Mexico]], and developed the "Lost Valley" from his visits to the area.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fischer |first1=Stuart |title=Those Unforgettable Super-Heroes of Dell & Gold Key |journal=Alter Ego |issue=151 |page=64 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |date=March 2018}}</ref>

After two appearances in ''Four Color'' #596 and #656, the title ran 27 issues (#3–29) published by [[Dell Comics]] (1956–1962); then issues #30–125 (1962–1980) from [[Gold Key Comics]]; and finally issues #126–130 (1981–82) under Western's Whitman Comics imprint.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schelly |first1=William |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s |date=2013 |publisher=TwoMorrows |isbn=9781605490540 |page=162}}</ref>

The first Turok one-shot (''Four Color'' #596) was originally written by Du Bois as a ''Young Hawk'' story. ''Young Hawk'' was an earlier Native American comic book feature Du Bois created, which appeared in Dell's ''[[The Lone Ranger]]'' comic book series.

Although the artists had long since established Turok as an adult, Du Bois's last scripts for the series (''Turok'' #8) still introduced stories by describing Turok and Andar as "youths", more befitting Young Hawk than Turok (though Andar was depicted as a youth). The first story in that issue begins as "Turok and Andar, Indian youths, have found their way into a strange network of deep canyons in the Carlsbad area, where ancient forms of life still exist&nbsp;... They have found no way to get out". The second story begins where "trapped in a deep canyon in the Carlsbad area of New Mexico, Turok and Andar, two Indian youths, have met ancient forms of life which have disappeared from all other parts of the world".

In Du Bois' last Turok story (issue #8, "Turok Seeks the Trail to Freedom", in which Turok encounters a herd of horses, which he calls "slim-legged creatures", having no word for them, as the horse had not yet been reintroduced to the Americas by the Spanish), Turok scales the cliffs, and escapes the Lost Valley. However, he returns for Andar, who was left behind after being injured. Soon, an avalanche permanently seals the way out and the series begins anew. [[Paul S. Newman]] began writing the Turok stories afterward.

===Valiant Comics===
[[Image:Turok-valiant-comic.jpg|thumb|Valiant's ''Turok: Dinosaur Hunter''. Art by [[Bart Sears]].]]
In 1992, [[Valiant Comics]] introduced a revamped Turok, debuting him in ''[[Magnus: Robot Fighter]]'' #12.<ref>{{cite journal |date=January 1993 |title= Top 10: December 1992 |journal=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] |issue=17 |page=108 |publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]]}}</ref> With this version, the concept and setting were altered. Turok and Andar were now 18th-century [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]]. The isolated valley became "the Lost Lands" – a land where [[demon]]s, [[dinosaur]]s and [[Extraterrestrial life|alien]]s flourish and where "time has no meaning". A cosmic anomaly causes time in the Lost Lands to move in a self-contained loop (which means that while millions of years pass outside of it, inside it, time barely moves at all). "[[Unity (comics)|Unity]]", a line-wide Valiant Comics crossover storyline, altered the concept even further. The crossover's main villain, a psychotic superpowered being known as [[Mothergod]], uses the Lost Lands as her base of operations. She outfits dinosaurs with intelligence-boosting implants, turning them into "bionisaurs".

In the aftermath of the final battle between Mothergod and the [[Valiant Universe]] heroes, the Lost Lands begin to disappear. Turok and Andar are tossed into a [[post-apocalyptic]] future Earth, and a group of bionisaurs make it to Earth along with them. Following this, they become ruthless hunters trying to contend with the demons and aliens that exist in the future world, as well as various [[Lovecraft]]ian abominations and high-tech future warriors. Mothergod seizes power in this future and begins to rebuild her empire and attempts to hunt down and kill Turok and Andar.

A new volume of Turok's own comic, ''Turok: Dinosaur Hunter'', was launched in 1993. Valiant published 53 issues before [[Acclaim Entertainment|Acclaim]] purchased the company, including ''Turok: Dinosaur Hunter'' #0–47, ''Original Turok: Son of Stone'' #1–2, ''Turok: Dinosaur Hunter Yearbook'' in 1994, and the two-issue miniseries ''Turok the Hunted'' in 1996. ''Turok: Dinosaur Hunter'' #1 was the sixth best-selling comic of the month of June, surpassed only by the first five installments of "[[Reign of the Supermen!]]".<ref>{{cite news | date = June 1993 | title = Wizard Market Watch | work = [[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] | issue = #22 | pages = 134–5}}</ref>

===Acclaim Comics===
{{unreferenced section|date = July 2010}}
A new Turok series, titled simply ''Turok'', was published by Acclaim Comics in 1997 and 1998. In the revamped Acclaim Comics universe, Turok is not the character's name, but rather a title meaning "Son of Stone". The Turok must protect the barriers between this dimension and the others—the axis of all worlds being the Lost Lands, a place where creatures from across time and space had been dragged and where "time has no meaning". Joshua Fireseed, the latest Turok, must travel between alternate universes stopping those who would try to conquer the Lost Lands, and thus all of the multiverse with it.

===Dark Horse Comics===
A new Turok series, again titled ''Turok: Son of Stone'', was launched by Dark Horse Comics, under license by Classic Media in 2010. The title was written by former Valiant Comics writer [[Jim Shooter]] and illustrated by Eduardo Francisco. This was one of a series of titles released by Dark Horse that year based on classic [[Gold Key Comics]] properties. The entire line, including Turok, was short-lived, with Turok lasting only four issues.<ref>{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Rich|title=Solar, Magnus, Turok, Dark Horse's Gold Key Line To Be Cancelled| date= May 7, 2011 |url= http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/05/07/solar-magnus-turok-dark-horses-gold-key-line-to-be-cancelled/|publisher= | website= BleedingCool|access-date= 7 May 2011}}</ref>

===Dynamite Comics===
[[Dynamite Entertainment]] launched a new Turok comic series, titled ''Turok: Dinosaur Hunter'', as well as books based on other Gold Key Comics properties, as part of a licensing deal with [[DreamWorks Classics]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Wilson |first=Matt D. |title=New Turok, Magnus, Solar And Doctor Spektor Comics Coming From Dynamite In 2014 [NYCC 2013] |url=http://comicsalliance.com/turok-magnus-solar-doctor-spektor-comics-dynamite |publisher=ComicsAlliance |access-date=11 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014063200/http://comicsalliance.com/turok-magnus-solar-doctor-spektor-comics-dynamite/ |archive-date=2013-10-14 }}</ref> The creative team on the title was [[Greg Pak]] and Mirko Colak. This comics series was released in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gerding|first=Stephen.|title=EXCLUSIVE: Dynamite Debuts First 'Turok' Pages, New Variants|date=13 November 2013|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=49111|publisher=Comic Book Resources|access-date=10 Dec 2013}}</ref> The series ended after 12 issues.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dynamite Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #12|url=http://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513021358712011|website=Dynamite – The Official Site|access-date=20 December 2015}}</ref>

In 2016, Turok appeared in a five-issue miniseries called ''[[Gold Key: Alliance]]''. Written by [[Phil Hester (comics)|Phil Hester]] and illustrated by Brent Peeples, the book starred heroes from multiple Gold Key Comics titles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dynamite Gold Key Alliance #1 (of 5)|url=http://dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513024648601011|website=Dynamite – The Official Site|access-date=24 February 2016}}</ref>

Dynamite published a second Turok comic series titled ''Turok'', written by [[Chuck Wendig]] and illustrated by Álvaro Sarraseca, in 2017. It also featured backup stories starring fellow Gold Key character [[Doctor Spektor]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Dynamite Turok #1|url=https://dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513026075801011|website=Dynamite – The Official Site|access-date=25 November 2017}}</ref>

==Fictional character biography==<!--Much of the PH needs to be separated and brought to this FCB-->
Turoks have included, in chronological order from earliest to most recent:
* '''Turok''': Native American warrior trapped in the Lost Valley. Hero of the original comics, Dark Horse Comics series, Dynamite Entertainment series and animated film.
* '''Tal'Set''': Saquin warrior<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=19544 |title=Turok Evolution for Xbox |publisher=GameStop |access-date=2011-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202025504/http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=19544 |archive-date=2010-12-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/135/135826p1.html |title=Turok Evolution – PlayStation 2 Preview at IGN |publisher=Ps2.ign.com |date=2002-01-23 |access-date=2011-06-16}}</ref> who became Turok in the 1800s and is the hero of ''[[Turok: Evolution]]'' and ''[[Turok: Dinosaur Hunter]]''.
* '''Carl Fireseed''', uncle of Joshua Fireseed, Turok from 1982 to 1997.<ref name="giantbomb1">{{cite web|url=http://www.giantbomb.com/joshua-fireseed/94-1114/ |title=Joshua Fireseed (video game character) |publisher=Giantbomb.com |access-date=2011-06-16}}</ref>
* '''Joshua Fireseed''', nephew of Carl Fireseed, Turok since 1997, hero of the Acclaim Comics and ''[[Turok 2: Seeds of Evil]]''.<ref name="giantbomb1"/>
* '''Danielle Fireseed''' and '''Joseph Fireseed''', younger sister and brother of Joshua Fireseed, heroes of ''[[Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion]]''.
* '''Joseph Turok''', [[Métis in the United States|Half]]-[[Kiowa]] [[Space Marine]] and hero of ''[[Turok (video game)|Turok]]''.

==Collected editions==
In 2009, [[Dark Horse Comics]] started an archive series to reprint the original comics:

*''Turok: Son of Stone Archives'':
**''Volume 1'' (collects ''Four Color Comics'' #596 and 656 and ''Turok'' #3–6, 224 pages, March 2009, {{ISBN|1-59582-155-4}})
**''Volume 2'' (collects ''Turok'' #7–12, 224 pages, July 2009, {{ISBN|1-59582-275-5}})
**''Volume 3'' (collects ''Turok'' #13–18, 224 pages, August 2009, {{ISBN|1-59582-281-X}})
**''Volume 4'' (collects ''Turok'' #19–24, 224 pages, November 2009, {{ISBN|1-59582-343-3}})
**''Volume 5'' (collects ''Turok'' #25–30, 224 pages, March 2010, {{ISBN|1-59582-442-1}})
**''Volume 6'' (collects ''Turok'' #31–35,37, 224 pages, July 2010, {{ISBN|1-59582-484-7}}) (#36 reprinted issue #14)
**''Volume 7'' (collects ''Turok'' #38–43, 216 pages, November 2010, {{ISBN|1-59582-565-7}})
**''Volume 8'' (collects ''Turok'' #44–50, 232 pages, April 2011, {{ISBN|1-59582-641-6}})
**''Volume 9'' (collects ''Turok'' #51–53, 55–56, 58–59, 232 pages, November 2010, {{ISBN|1-59582-789-7}}) (#54 reprinted issue #26 and #57 reprinted issue #17)
**''Volume 10'' (collects ''Turok'' #60–67, March 2012, {{ISBN|1-59582-861-3}})

===Additional collections===
*''Turok: Son of Stone'' (by [[Tony Bedard]], 88 pages, September 3, 2008, {{ISBN|1-59582-201-1}})<ref>[http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/14-952/Turok-Son-of-Stone-TPB Turok: Son of Stone TPB] at DarkHorse.com</ref> Adaptation of the 2008 DVD film.
*''Turok: Son of Stone Volume 1: Aztlán'' (by [[Jim Shooter]], Eduardo Francisco, and James Harren, 96 pages, December 21, 2011, {{ISBN|1-59582-690-4}})<ref>[http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-084/Turok-Son-of-Stone-Aztlan-Volume-1-TPB Turok, Son of Stone: Aztlan Volume 1 TPB] at DarkHorse.com</ref> Collects the four-issue 2010 Dark Horse Comics series.
*''Turok: Dinosaur Hunter Vol. 1: Conquest'' (by Greg Pak, Mirko Colak, and Cory Smith, 128 pages, September 9, 2014, {{ISBN|1606905201}})<ref>[http://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C1606905201 Dynamite Turok: Dinosaur Hunter Vol. 1: Conquest Tpb] at Dynamite.com</ref> Collects issues #1–4 of the 2014 Dynamite Comics series.
*''Turok: Dinosaur Hunter Vol. 2: West'' (by Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa, 120 pages, April 22, 2015, {{ISBN|1606905988}})<ref>[https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C1606905988 ''Dynamite Turok: Dinosaur Hunter'' Vol. 2: West Trade Paperback] at Dynamite.com</ref> Collects issues #5–8 of the 2014 Dynamite Comics series.
*''Turok: Dinosaur Hunter Vol. 3: Raptor Forest'' (by Greg Pak, Paul Tobin, Lee Ferguson, Ruairi Coleman, Stephen Downey, and Felipe Cunha, 128 pages, August 12, 2015, {{ISBN|1606906933}})<ref>[https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C1606906933 ''Dynamite Turok: Dinosaur Hunter'' Vol. 3 Trade Paperback] at Dynamite.com</ref> Collects issues #9–12 of the 2014 Dynamite Comics series.
*''Turok Vol. 1: Blood Hunt'' (by Chuck Wendig and Álvaro Sarraseca, 140 pages, May 16, 2018, {{ISBN|1524106526}}) <ref>[https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C1524106526 ''Dynamite Turok'' Vol. 1: Blood Hunt Trade Paperback] at Dynamite.com</ref> Collects issues #1–5 of the 2017 Dynamite Comics series.

==In other media==

===Video games===
{{main|Turok (video game series)}}

The first ''Turok'' video game, titled ''[[Turok: Dinosaur Hunter]]'', was released in 1997 for the [[Nintendo 64]] console. The game was followed by numerous sequels, released for [[Nintendo 64]], [[Game Boy]], [[Game Boy Color]], [[Personal computer|PC]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], [[GameCube]] and the [[Game Boy Advance]]. In 2008, the video game reboot ''[[Turok (2008 video game)|Turok]]'' was released for [[PlayStation 3]], [[Personal computer|PC]] and [[Xbox 360]].

===Mobile games===
The initial mobile game was developed by Disney's Living Mobile Studios and released by [[Touchstone Pictures|Touchstone]] in 2008. In it, Joseph Turok is a member of the Whiskey Company's elite squad. Turok survives an airplane crash, and must fend off dinosaurs.

===Books===
After the success of the Turok video games, a series of non-canon Turok novels written by Michael Teitelbaum was released, dealing with the same storyline as the games. The first book was titled ''Way of the Warrior''. The second and third books, ''Seeds of Evil'' and ''Arena of Doom'', concerned Joshua Fireseed's fight against the Primagen and the Campaigner, respectively. A fourth novel, ''Path of Destruction'', was published in November 1998.

===Animated DVD===
In early 2008, a 70-minute animated DVD titled ''[[Turok: Son of Stone (film)|Turok: Son of Stone]]'' was released by [[Classic Media]]. The screen story was written by Evan Baily and Tony Bedard, with a screenplay by Bedard. In this version, Andar is Turok's nephew, not his brother. [[Adam Beach]] provides the voice of Turok, with [[Irene Bedard]] as the voice of Catori (the wife of Turok's brother, Nashoba), [[Robert Knepper]] as the villain Chichak, and [[Cree Summer]] as the voice of Sepinta. Curt Geda, Dan Riba, and Frank Squillace each directed a third of the movie. Ex-Disney (''[[Aladdin (animated TV series)|Aladdin]]'' and ''[[Hercules (1998 TV series)|Hercules: The Animated Series]]'') producer [[Tad Stones]] was the supervising director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0968765/|title=Turok: Son of Stone (Video 2008)|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref>

===Film===
Actor [[Adam Beach]], who had voiced the character in the animated film ''Turok: Son of Stone'', said he was involved in a planned Turok live-action film, and that the script was being written.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/06/10/exclusive-adam-beach-to-star-in-live-action-turok-movie/|title=Exclusive: Adam Beach To Star In Live Action Turok Movie|date=June 10, 2008|first=Shawn|last=Adler|publisher=[[MTV]]|access-date=2011-06-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907172214/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/06/10/exclusive-adam-beach-to-star-in-live-action-turok-movie/|archive-date=September 7, 2015}}</ref> There has been no updates to this since 2008.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.toonopedia.com/turok.htm ''Turok, Son of Stone''] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20240527124018/https://www.webcitation.org/6bQMupMir?url=http://toonopedia.com/turok.htm Archived] from the original on September 9, 2015.
*[http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/t/turok.htm Turok] at the International Catalogue of Superheroes
*{{gcdb|type=character|search=Turok|title=Turok}}
*{{comicbookdb|type=character|id=1351|title=Turok}}
*[http://www.comichron.com/titlespotlights/turok.html Turok comic book sales figures] at The Comics Chronicles

{{Gold Key Comics}}
{{Turok series}}
{{Valiant}}

[[Category:Turok| ]]
[[Category:1954 comics debuts]]
[[Category:Dell Comics titles]]
[[Category:Dinosaurs in comic books]]
[[Category:Fantasy comics]]
[[Category:Jungle men]]
[[Category:Gold Key Comics titles]]
[[Category:Jungle (genre) comics]]
[[Category:DreamWorks Classics franchises]]
[[Category:Valiant Comics titles]]
[[Category:Video game franchises]]
[[Category:Fictional hunters in comics]]
[[Category:Comics set in prehistory]]
[[Category:Comics set in pre-Columbian America]]
[[Category:Fictional Native American people in video games]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into video games]]
[[Category:Lost world comics]]