~3 minute readNewest Infocomic: ZorkQuest II
ZQ II: The Crystal of Doom
Are you sunburned and tender, blister-red from too long at the beach? Or lethargic, stickier than Scotch tape in the heavy-skied humidity that weather reports have the temerity to call "dewpoint"? Bored with the long summer, the ennui of work, the doldrums of those hot, endless afternoons when you friends are away on vacation? Well, here’s the answer to your prayers, the harbinger of those brisk and busy, cool autumnal months: a new Infocomic —- ZorkQuest II: The Crystal of Doom.
ZQII picks up shortly after ZorkQuest I: Assault on Egreth Castle. Our caravan of intrepid adventurers is continuing its journey to Accardi-By-The-Sea. The magician Frobwit is on his way to the Convention of Enchanters and Sorcerers, looking forward to telling his friends about his battle with the evil magician (in ZQI). Acia, proud and beautiful, is traveling to visit her sickly grandmother; while Gurthark the merchant just wants to get his load of quilts to market. These three and the cargo are guarded by the scout Ryker, who is head-over-heels in love with Acia.
Ahead of them, in Accardi-By-The-Sea, two young hoodlums have just stolen a powerful spellbook, the relic of an ancient circle of wizards known as the Zizbits. Moog, a recent graduate of the Frobozz Magic Magic Correspondence School, ringleads her old pal, Slye, into helping her break into the protected ruins of the old Zizbit city.
Using spells found in the magic book, Moog and Slye fulfill two-thirds of a prophecy that foretells a dark and evil force shadowing the land: a trio of powerful magicians called the Triax. They discover a magic reflecting pool that will answer any question, and though it, search out a third to complete the Triax. The pool shows them Radnor, the powerful and evil wizard of ZQI. Moog determines to bring him to the Zizbit wins.
Meanwhile, the caravan from Egreth is beset by a series of calamities. Giant corbies attack the wagon; Acia becomes deathly ill; Gurthark is lost in a disastrous attempt to cross a raging river; Ryker suddenly discovers his strength is gone. Will they complete their journey? What horrors await them in Accardi-By-The-Sea, where Moog and Slye are cooking up an evil such as has never been seen in Quendor?
ZQII was written by Elizabeth Langosy, in collaboration with graphic artists at Tom Snyder Productions. Elizabeth, one of our in-house product designers, and artists Peter Reynolds, Doug McCartney and Bob Thibeault, also worked together to create ZQI.
Comic afficandos will recognize the fantastic cover artwork of artist Howard Chaykin, author of American Flagg, Shadow, and Blackhawk.
Three other Infocomics are already available. ZQI acquaints us with the caravan of travellers: Gurthark, Acia, Ryker and Frobwit. In this tale, the band of adventurers are caught in the talons of a powerful wizard, Radnor, who seeks control of the magic amulet they unknowingly possess.
Lane Mastodon, accountant turned superhero, appears a spoof of a sci-fi space opera, battling his Jovian arch enemies in Lane Mastodon vs. The Blubbermen.
Gamma Force in Pit of a Thousand Screams, tells how three disparate people, saved from sure death by vastly superior beings, combine their supernatural powers in order to defeat the evil overlord of their planet.
ZorkQuest II: The Crystal of Doom will be available in August for Apple II series, Commodore 64/128, and IBM and 100% compatible computer systems.
With hours of entertainment awaiting you in an air-conditioned room, learning about the characters you came to know and love, and for the low price of only $12, ZQII is a story not to be missed.
These historical, out-of-print articles and literary works have been GNUSTOed onto InvisiClues.org for academic and research purposes.
