DC Special #25 is an issue of the series DC Special (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1977. It was published on September 9, 1976.
Synopsis for The Three Musketeers: "Die by the Sword"
The musketeers look on as a captured traitor named Corbeau is about to be executed. Before the executioners axe falls on his head, Corbeau yells out a mysterious message “The Raven flies in Pairs”. The scene changes to King Louis court where the king bestows D'artagnan with a priceless pearl and he further awards him with Corbeaus title and castle in exchange for bringing the traitor to justice. D'artagnan is shocked but readily accepts the rewards. D'artagnan travels to visit his new estate when he is suddenly attacked by a hooded figure. The pair fights blade to blade but the hooded figure eventually runs off. D'artagnan arrives at the Corbeau castle where he is once more attacked this time by a girl dressed In a hooded bird mask. The musketeer looks up and spots the ghost of Corbeau for a fleeting moment and then finds that the girl has disappeared along with the ghost. D'artagnan decides to go to sleep in his new chambers and notices a mysterious painting on the ceiling depicting a man with two ravens. He falls asleep and dreams that he is being abducted by a huge raven himself. He suddenly awakens only to find that he is once more being attacked by a figure dressed in a hood that is shaped like a bird. The hood comes off and it is revealed that the same girl is underneath the mask. She is about to stab D'artagnan with a knife but he is rescued by the musketeers who have just arrived. It is then revealed that the girl is the daughter of the dead traitor known as Corbeau. She claims that Corbeau was a good man and the musketeers had him executed for the purpose of obtaining his property. She is locked away until she cools down. In the meantime the musketeers show D'artgnan that they have brought a message for him from Richelieu. D'artagnan is to collect all the local taxes from the region and deliver them to the king or else his life will be forfeit. The musketeers assist D'artagnan in collecting the taxes but they are then ambushed by the hooded figure once more and he steals the tax money. The musketeers then decide to set a trap which will bring the hooded figure to them. They announce that D'artagnan will marry the daughter of Corbeau at a certain chapel. The scheme works and the musketeers are attacked right before the wedding ceremony. The musketeers fight valiantly against their foes and the hooded figure is suddenly unmasked revealing the traitor Corbeau underneath. It turns out that the unmasked figure is not Corbeau but rather his evil twin brother who forced his sibling to exchange places with him. The evil Corbeau runs off only to lose his life while trying to sneak back into the castle. He accidentally walks into a trap previously set by his brother and his head is severed. The musketeers later discuss what has transpired. The kings men arrested the good twin while the evil twin assumed the guise of the hooded figure. Corbeaus dying words along with the painting on the ceiling had confirmed their suspicions.
Appearing in The Three Musketeers: "Die by the Sword"
Featured Characters:
Locations:
Synopsis for Robin Hood: "The Forest of Traps"
This story is reprinted from The Brave and the Bold #7.
Robin and his men learn from local villagers that there is a group of men impersonating them and conducting robberies under their name. He scours Sherwood forest in search of the imposters and finally locates them. The lead imposter challenges Robin to a sword duel and almost gets the better of but Robin overcomes him in the end. They imprison the impersonators and haul them off but surprisingly he and his men run into another group of imposters. This time the lead figure challenges Robin to a quarter staff duel while floating on a log. After some skillful maneuvering, Robin is able to dump the imposter in the river. Robin then continues towards Tynesbury where he runs into a third and final group of impersonators. Robin Hood is challenged to a Bow and Arrow duel in which he successfully wins by pinning his opponents shield to a tree with his archery skills. It is then revealed that all of this was a ploy by Prince John to lure Robin into a trap. Robin escapes by mowing the Prince's men down with a jail cart full of impersonators. He then returns back to the village greeted by cheering crowds.
Appearing in Robin Hood: "The Forest of Traps"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- The Merrie Men
Antagonists:
- Prince John (Behind the scenes)
- Merrie Men-Impersonators (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
- England (12th Century)
- Sherwood Forest
- Tynesbury Village
Items:
- Quarterstaff
- Robin Hood's Bow and Arrow
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for Robin Hood: "The Bow That Couldn't Be Bent"
This story is reprinted from The Brave and the Bold #15.
Robins father is worried that his young son is not applying himself in the noble arts of knighthood. The father fears that he is once more wasting his time in the forest instead of practicing his jousting along with the other squires. The setting changes and we find Robin practicing his archery skills with an old warrior known as “Old Hugh”. Robin skillfully shoots a coin from Hughs hand using a longbow. Hugh then produces a mighty bow that he has constructed but announces that Robin is not yet strong enough to use the weapon. Robin leaves the clearing after his lesson but then notices a group of armed villains approaching Hughs cottage. The villains attack old Hugh to get him to reveal information on great dear herds but Hugh refuses to tell them anything. Robin observes the predicament but has no weapons except the bow that Hugh had just demonstrated. He successfully shoots a blade from one of the villain's hand as he is about to strike Hugh. He then lobs arrow after arrow at the villain until they run off in fear. Old Hugh then gifts his bow to Robin as a sign of his gratitude. In the meantime back at the castle Robins father receives a challenge from his enemy Osric of Dragonsmoor. Osric challenges Sir Rolf to a duel to the death. Sir Rolf accepts even though he and his knights are outnumbered by Osric and his men. Robin comes upon the scene and sees that his father has the disadvantage. He then uses his newly acquired bow to shoot arrows at Osric's men knocking some of them off their horses. Sir Rolf sees that he has suddenly gained the advantage and charges forward making Osric retreat. Sir Rolf is then left wondering who the mysterious archer could have been but Robin remains silent about his part in the action. Robin then arrives at the castle as his father scolds him for missing out on the action and wasting time with Old Hugh.
Appearing in Robin Hood: "The Bow That Couldn't Be Bent"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Old Hugh (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- Osric (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Sir Rolf (First appearance)
Locations:
- England (12th Century)
- Duncaster Castle
- Sherwood Forest
Items:
- Robin Hood's Yew Longbow
Synopsis for Viking Prince: "The Outcast Viking"
This story is reprinted from The Brave and the Bold #8.
The people of the Viking Princes village vote to banish him on advise from an old fisherman named Baldur who seems to have clairvoyant powers. The old fisherman had warned the people that the source of all their misery and disasters had been a result of having Viking Jon living among them. He warns that unless they get rid of him, even more disasters would befall the village. The Viking Prince agrees to the banishment and sets off to sea. As he leaves he passes a group of massive mastodons frozen in a glacier forever frozen in time. A short time later, Jon witnesses a huge volcano erupting from a nearby island as flaming ashes rain down on his village. A fiery red cloud then moves towards his village so Jon returns to warn everyone. As he approaches he is shocked to see that the frozen elephants have come to life. Freed from their captivity as a result of their glacier melting down from all the heat caused by the approaching cloud. Jon rushes to his village as the Mastodons approach. He quickly leads the Mastodons through a patch of ice which causes them to fall through and into the water. The ice could not sustain their weight. Jon then asks for the whereabouts of the fisherman Baldur to challenge his prophesies but he is informed that he has already fled leaving behind his old battered drum
Appearing in Viking Prince: "The Outcast Viking"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Gunnda
Antagonists:
- Baldur (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Captain Olaf
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
See Also