The Golden Fleece is a short (two issue) comic from Dark Horse that follows Indy on an adventure from Greece through Turkey to recover the golden fleece of ancient Greek mythology. The story begins with a bang as Indy and his team, working on an archeological dig on the Peloponnesian peninsula, are forced to evacuate by British authorities to escape the Nazi invaders.
Frankly, this opening sequence, like most of the adventure that follows, hits a lot of the right notes for a classic Indy adventure- most notably in regards to action. The book's artwork is generally pretty strong. It conveys visceral action, and the beachhead siege to open the story is a great place to start. While Indy doesn't look very much like Harrison Ford, it isn't AS bad as some of the other Dark Horse comics (Fate of Atlantis, for example). Indy showcases his daring while unearthing clues at dig sites and fighting his way through Nazi soldiers (and others).
There are some good characters in this story too- notably a pregnant Greek version of Marion Ravenwoon named Omphale, Daan Van Rooijen, a Danish Antiquities dealer in Istanbul, and Mehmed Sarper, colorful Turkish vendor that is a hybrid of Sallah and Sydney Greenstreet's Signor Ferrari in Casablanca. The only issue is that length of the comic prevents any in-depth character development really take place, giving the reader only a snapshot of these personalities. Fortunately, although not fully developed, this supporting cast fits well into the Indy universe.
While the Golden Fleece may be short, it does pack in a lot of action and "Indy moments." Ancient treasures, a Nazi invasion, daring escapes, a strong-willed and capable woman, a mysterious cult, betrayal, WWII dogfights, and a climax that incorporates a bit of the supernatural. Classic, formulaic Indiana Jones- I just wish the book were a bit longer so we could have more of it!
Indy Rating: 8.5/10
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