Arabian Night's comic (27 Scans)

[The Squirle master]

Long, long time ago, in a country far, far away (for me, for most of you it'll be right around the corner), a company called Aclaim Comics produced comics about Magic. Some stories where excelent (Dakkon Blackblade, Homelands), others could have used 4 issues instead of 2 (Fallen Empires) and some where just crap (Ice Age #2)

Some time ago I bought the dutch translations of some of those comics, and now that I've got access to a scanner, I thought I'd share them with you. And since most of you won't be able to read dutch, I'll add subtitles in english. So get ready for some bad spelling

Disclaimer: This either belongs to Acclaim comics or the dutch company Junior Press. I know absolutely bollocks of American copyright laws, but since I've seen numerous people post scans from comics only a month old and these comics are almost 10 years old, I'll take my chances. Just to be on the safe side I won't scan every page and if that still isn't good enough for those Acclaim people reading this, just sent me an E-Mail and I'll take this down.

Okay, everybody ready? Popcorn in hand and chips bags opened?

The Squirle Theater presents: Arabian Night's #1

Written by Susan Wright and Jeofrey Vita
Drawn by Alexander Maleev
Inked by Rodney Ramos
Coloured by Michael Tuccinard

EDIT: Almost forgot, you can click on the pictures to make them bigger!

Arabian Night's was originally a set based on the stories of 1001 nights, but since they didn't want to make comics based on those stories, they made some "clever" changes: it now took place on the plane of Rabiah instead of in Arabia, and the 1001 nights where changed to the 1001 planes, for Rabiah was a strange plane that split up into 1001 different planes in ages past. Everyone on that plane thus had a 1001 versions except for a certain someone: Taysir


Naration box: On the edge of the forest Fa'adiyah, on a world named Rabiah...
Title: A TIME OF GATHERING
Nailah (in the red text box): It is done
Apprentice Taysir: Your end is the beginning of my life as Planeswalker!
Herder Taysir: AAAGH!


Nailah: Now, my apprentice, finihs the ritual and let the blood flow...
..let it join with the blood of your fallen brother. Take his memories.
Where once where two... NOW IS ONE!
Taysir: NYAAAGH! NO! I see his life, I feel his death... my death! NIALAH! THE PAIN!
Nailah: Your pain isn't important.
Taysir: Nailah, you must help me.

Okay, you all must be thuroughly confused. Luckily Nailah explains some stuff on the next page.

Nailah: Don't weaken now Taysir
Taysir: But I see images...I feel his pain... With each heartbeat I feel his death again.
Nailah: Listen to these wise words.. the tales of the elders speak of one who exists out of five... A mage from Rabiah who will become the most powerfull wizard ever. This Rabiah and the one we're from are just two of 1000, so different and at the same time so different.
I've seen that there is only one man who has 5 versions... and that man is you Taysir!
You have joined with one Taysir. Now we must find the other 3... the Ring of Maruf will take us to the others. Soon we will be invincible!
Taysir: Whatever you say mistress.
Naration: The deserts of Karun... the next destination of Taysir.
Nailah: There apprentice, the nomad.


Nailah: This Taysir is NOTHING! GET HIM!
Apprentice Taysir: Nothing... or a part of my soul?
Nomad Taysir: Who? In Allahs name! You look like me!
Apprentice Taysir: No... You don't look like me, you are me. We are parts of a puzzle who should be together. We must hurry, I betrayed myself once before. Never again.
Nomad Taysir: How is this possible?
Apprentice Taysir: Take this ring, it will take oyu to the other Taysirs?
Nomad Taysir: Other Taysirs?
Nailah: Apprentice stop! You can't... AAAAHHHHH!
Apprentice Taysir: Go Nomad, I can't keep this sandstorm up for long. Join with the other Taysirs, unity the blood.

I'll skip the next page. It shows some dull fighting between Apprentice Taysir and Nailah and some more corny dialogue. The aprrentice tells the Nomad not to take the other Taysir's blood by force and the Nomad runs away and has a private moment with the ring.


NJomad Taysir: This is increadible! It's like the ring is singing. There is power in it. Power that can be mine. Very good... take me to the next Taysir.
Naration: The Bazaar of Bassorah in the country of Rabiah.
Nomad: Blessed Allah! There, that is... Taysir. That is me!
Dervish Taysir: Come Raghib
Raghib: Just my lord.

I'll skip another page. Suffice to say the Nomad confronts the Dervish and Raghib steps out of the shadows to reveal he's in a quite misserable shape.
Oh, and "Dervish Taysir"... I have no idea why he's called a Dervish. He's white, not green (that was the herder), doesn't have protection from black and doesn't get +1/+1 if he smacks an opponent. In this cominc he is refered to as a "Monnik" (Dutch for Monk), but that could be a goof in the translation. Zazdor callls him the Dervish, soi I'll stick with that.


Raghib : The circle is almost closed. I can't stay here. Taysir my friend, the monk, there is much to explain. I have waited centuries for this.
The ring! I didn't think I'd see it ever again.
It possesess much power. Power that Nailah want's to use for herself.
Nomad Taysir: Nailah! I've heard that name in the desert! That Witch! You know her, you obey her...
Raghib : NO! That is in the past. I no longer listen to her. I he hyer magicks to thank for my leprosy.
Nailah and I where students of the great wizard El-Hajjaj. I betrayed her and this is her reward. I want to stop her.
Nomad Taysir: Noble words. If you speak the truth.

On the next page Raghib proves he is right by showing the Nomad and the Dervish pictures of Nailah and the Apprentice via a magical orb (presumable he conjured it off pannel, since I don't see any pockets he could've carried it in)
This is what they see:


Naration: The keep of Nailah, by the Crags of Sana'a
Apprentice Taysir: I have sinned... and now I'm haunted by the Taysir who's life I took. Memories of the herder torment me. I can't take it anymore. It's driving me insane! Nailah! This is all your fault!
Nailah: YOU are the one who betraywed ME apprentice! That nomad is a better carrier than you.

Nailah rants some more (I'll be the queen of the multiverse, MUHUHUHUHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!). The aprrentice tries to escape, but his magicks don't work in the Oubliette.


Aprrentice Taysir: I must try... Forgive me brother... lend me your power... the power of the living nature...
"I call upon the help of a divine power to stop this horrible evil..."
uhhhh... NO!
It wont work. This is my punishment for killing the other Taysir.
Nailah: You're only punishment isd your weak character. I should have started with the nomad. His rutheless character fits my plans much better.

And indeed, the Nomad doesn't use much subtelty in getting the Dervish to join with him...

Nartion: The mosk quarter of the city of Bassorah.
Nomad: Accusred wizard. Those useless warnings won't stop me. I must make sure our lives will be connected. The apprentice told me to...
Raghib: NO! You musn't forget the vision frm the orb!
Dervish: Listen to Raghib, brother.
Nomad: Shut your mouth or I'll shut it for you!
*the Nomad punches Raghib: KRAK!*
Please, in the name of Allah, my son... Raghib has no reason to lie. I don't know about this either, but violence won't solve anything.
Nomad: You've had your chance for a peaceful solution. If nececary I will use force!

On the next page (which is skipped as well), Nailah shows up and tries to persuade the Nomad to kill the Dervish. Aparently the Nomad has a very bad memory, 'cause only now he remembers the Apprentice told him not to take the other Taysirs by force.


Nomad: The apprentice warned me not to take my others with force, Do I dare risk my soul?
Good... get away while you still can. I'll take care of the sorceress.
Dervish: We can't leave you here, Mailah is much to strong!
Nomad: I'm not entirely helpless. Come, GO AWAY!
Nailha: HHUURR! Do you think your neeldestings can hurt me?
You to have much to lear... if you'll serve me. Here, feel how the life flows away from you... kill the monk (dervish) or DIE YOURSELF!

Raghib to the resque!

Raghib: Let him go Nailah. You do know your plan wont succeed?
Nailah: Filthy leper! I'll deal with you next!
Raghib: Here, what do you think of this Paralyze? Do you remember how we learned it together?
Nailah: What is this treason? Let me go you filthy dog! Let me go!
Nailah: Is that how you speak to an old friend?
Yes Nailah, its is I... Raghib!
Dervish: My son, can you walk? We must get out of here!
Nomad: I'm not afraid... I feel death...


Raghib: You didn't reckognise me, did you? You promised to marry me... and then you cursed me! Once you where my life... until you took my life frmo me!
Nomad: I don't want to become a slave to this sorceress... take my blood... and my life, brother.
Dervish: Do you realise what you're asking from me?
Nomad: Use the ring of Maruf to find the final Taysir. Save us!
Nailah (Glowing yellow): I can't let that happen!
Raghib: She's breaking lose! DO IT!
Nailah: You never knew how to hold me Raghib. Not when I was a girl... not when you made a woman out of me...


Nailah (continued fr0m last page): ...and certainly not now!
Raghib: I can't hold it!
Nomad: I accept you brother, please...
Dervish:Forgive me Nomad. I take your life... now live trough me!

I love that "You never knew how to hold me line"


Raghib: Its is over. Taysir the Nomad is dead.
Dervish: No Raghib, on the contrary. He lives. I feel him within me!
It seems as if he lived in a different world. His soul... its beautyfull!
A life gained in a last moment of courage.
Nailah: Very touching Taysir. I'll send you back to my keep, where we will complete our task.

But the Dervish shows he knows some spells as well and uses some magical mirror to reflect Nailahs spells back into her own face. With the queen teleporting back to her keep the Dervish picks up the ring of Maruf and Raghib and they teleport to the location of the last Taysir...


Dervish: What is this place?
Raghib: This is where it all strated. The cCastle of El-Hajjaj.
Dervish (In the naration box): The magic... I can feel it. Somewhere in there is the last Taysir.
Bottom-right naration box: Quick, keep reading!

In case you're wondering, the box that says "Keep reading" probably said "To be continued" in the orriginal comic. There are no advertisements in dutch comics, so to prevent the translations of american comics from getting increadibly thin, dutch comics oft bundle two or three americans issues. Which places those "to be continued" things in the middle of the comics, a bit out of place if it isn't continued next month but on the next page. So the translators replace those with "keep reading" boxes.

So, that was Arabian Nights #1! Scanning this stuff takes longer than I had expected, so you'll have to wait for the conclusion of the story in Arabian Nights #2 until tomorow. And then another one or two weeks until Dakkon Blackblade.

Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed it and aren't going to sue me! Drop a post to tell me what you tought: dialogue to corny? good/bad art? Was it clear who said what or do I need to divide the lines per pannel next time?

Now please exit the theater in an orderly fasion and drop the 3D-glasses in the boxes to the right of the exit

[einhorn]

Cool, I enjoyed it. It was a bit disorienting to read the comic and translation seperately, but eh, I guess not much can be done about that :P

This makes me want to pick up some of the MtG comics myself...I have the Homelands one illustrated by Rebecca Guay, and it's awesome.

In terms of the Dervish thing, I think it makes plenty of sense for a Dervish to be white...a Dervish was a sort of Islamic priest who showed his devotion to Allah by whirling around really, really fast and doing other crazy physical exertions. So, maybe the original card should have been white in the first place.

[The Squirle master]

Originally Posted by einhorn

Cool, I enjoyed it. It was a bit disorienting to read the comic and translation seperately, but eh, I guess not much can be done about that :P

I thought about putting the translation inside the text bubbles, but sometimes it just wouldn't fit and most of the time it just looked crappy.

Originally Posted by einhorn

This makes me want to pick up some of the MtG comics myself...I have the Homelands one illustrated by Rebecca Guay, and it's awesome.

The Homelands one was the best of all of them, but I'm saving that one for last

Issue #2 will be posted this evening!

[MORT]

WOW GREAT!

:BOWS:


There were some spelling errors, but this doesn't disturb reading.
Great Job!

Quality of scans is very good.

I would like to see the rest sites of this comic though

*hides 3D-glasses to the pocket and leaves the theatre hasty*

[The Squirle master]

Originally Posted by MORT

I would like to see the rest sites of this comic though

Scanning this already took longer than I thought, so I wasn't realy in the mood to do all the other stuff as well. And I realy know squat about the american copywright laws, so I'm just going to stick by the rules the blogs that show comic-scans I frequent have, and one of those rules is "don't post the entire thing".

Anyway, without further ado, here are the scans of #2!

When we last saw Dervish Taysir and Raghib they where haning out at El-Hajjaj's castle, which apeared to be under water for some reason.


Raghib: Ahhh... SMART! This so called lake is just an illusion to keep us out. You can undo this enchantment Taysir. Use the powers of the Nomad.
Taysir: ENOUGH! I have had enough of your lies Raghib! You are no ordinary leper! Why didn't you warn me?
Raghib: Please, I mean no harm. I was once destined to be a great wizard, until that witch came...
Taysir: and betryaed you?
Raghib: Forgive me. I have much to explain and to suffer for.
Taysir: Good, than I now summon Taysir the Nomad. [i]Make this lake dissapear[/b].

the following pages contain an info dump on Raghib and Nailah's background with dialogue that has either been butchered in translation or that had been crap to start with, so I'll just summarize: The two of them trained under El-Hajjaj, Nailah's father. Hajjaj wanted to save the last Taysirfrom his daughter, but she fought him. Raghib thought both Hajjaj and the blue Taysir where killed in that battle, but Dervish Taysir can feel the other Taysir is still somewhere in the castle.


Naration: Outside of the castle of El-Hajjaj
Raghib: Let your sword rest, my lord. Even a simple guard must be aproached with caution.
Guard: REMAIN THERE! I demand your head as payment for the passage.
Taysir: Let me handle this. The power of the Nomad flows trough me. I can take him.
Raghib: No! If you destroy him, more will come. Try to keep the Nomad in check. Trust in me. Monk, you must do what the guard asks of you.
Taysir: Okay, but I hope I realy can trust you or all will be lost now.
*Guard hacks at Taysirs neck but disapears*
Raghib: Remarkable! He is gone. Are you hurt Taysir?
Taysir: Don't call me that, we aren't complete yet. I must rest for a while.

If you think that was an odd scene, that makes two of us.

The next page shows Raghib and Taysir inside Hajjaj's castle, but thet art is so gritty and dark you can only see a few strange stairs, so I've skipped the page. If you want to know what it looks like, check out an M.C. Escher picture.


Taysir: Some kind of armor?
Raghib: No, this is the trophee room of El-Hajjaj's workshop. A place where the last Taysir is probably hidden.
Taysir: But no door...
Raghib: LOOK OUT!
Taysir: BY ALLAH! Raghib, where are you going? RAGHIB!


Taysir: Forgive me warrior, I know you want to protect your castle, but I fight for all of Rabiah!
There is nobody in here. Why does every body run?
Raghib: We must be going this way.
Taysir: Why did you run away?
Raghib: Again I ask for your forgiveness... I'd have liked to help you, but there was something I needed to do myself.


Raghib: El-Hajjaj had many enemies. I apears he knew Nailah was one of them.
*Raghib finds the entry to the secret pasage*
Raghib: Ah, here it is! The door to the laboratory has opened.
*Artifact creatures attack!*
Taysir: Not again!
*Taysir smashes them*
Taysir: They're destroy thanks to my Shatter spell. I have changed Raghib... but more and more I feel something is missing. A part of me...

now more info-dump on Nailah and Raghib follows, which I'll summarise once again. Raghib is somehow still in love with Nailah, which prevents him from removing the Leprosy-spell she placed on him. Raghib also reveals the last thing he did for Nailah was taking Taysir the Apprentice from his home and bringing him to her so she could place the same love-spell-thing on him.

then Taysir and Raghib find a City in a Bottle. I thout I scanned it, but something wen't wrong. I'll see if I can re-scan it tomorow.

Anyway, Taysir opens the bottle and wakes someone up:

Guardian Beast (Minus 2 arms ): Who... Disturbs.. MY REST!
Raghib: The guardian is to strong for us!
Taysir: No, I wont run. That monster protects a city in a bottle, but I have the power of the power of mountains!

The monster keels over dead, and another someone emerges from the shadows:

El-Hajjaj: You opened the bottle. Go. Unite yourself with the Taysir in there. I never could.
Taysir: Finaly. The Ring of Maruf has taken me to many places, but this is truly special
Naration: One heartbeat later
Taysir: Raghib! Hajjaj! You didn't tell me he was a baby! By Allah, is no part of me sacred in your vendetta? He even holds a needle, ready to sacrifice himself!
LEPERS! WITCHES! THIEVES! I can't... yet I must. Forgive me child. Stay alive within me.

Taysir is not amused, but the child's innocence keeps the nomads rage in check. Taysir, Hajjaj and Raghib head off to Nailah's keep.

I have included the last 2 lines of the page I skipped as well.

Dervish Taysir: You're no longer banished!
Aprrentice Taysir: No, its a trap!
(On this page)
Dervish Taysir: Trap or not, I'll free you!
Nailah: A trap! (well duh...)
Devish Taysir: HHAARGH!
Hajjaj: ENOUGH NAILAH!
Nailah: FATHER? Impossible! I killed you!
Hajjaj: Worse daughter, you wounded me. You must stop with this madness Nailah. Don't destroy the last bit!

I'm not entirely sure what he means with "Don't destroy the last bit!". Probably another translation goof.
Oh, and its no mistake that Nailah suddenly stopped talking in shiny red speach bubbles. Aparently she can only talk that way to the Apprentice Taysir because of that strange love-spell-thing.


Nailah: Where you any better, father? What where you're plans for the united Taysir? Would you use him the same way you used me? Would you tear out his heart... (continued in the naration of the upper-right pannel) ...to use it for yourself?
Apprentice Taysir: NYAAARGH!
Raghib: Master, we must go!
Nailah: You still try to go your own way, don't you Raghib? FINE, I WANT YOU GONE!
Raghib:As always I obey...


Nailah: And you, father... the so called "least of two evils"...
Hajjaj: NO!
Raghib: We... are... defeated...
Nailah: Finaly it is time! The leper is dead and the Apprentice is dying. Take him and join me. If you refuse I'll kill him and you'll never be complete!
Dervish Taysir: There must be another way!
*blasts Nailah*
Apprentice Taysir: Come Monk, I already made the blood flow. Free me of her influence!
Dervish Taysir: Maybe that won't be needed. Nailah is hurt, we could escape together. I already lost Raghib, I don't wish to lose you as well.


Apprentice: Please, don't make me beg for it.
Dervish: If that is your wish. I'll let the blood unite for one last time.
Taysir as One: WE LIVE!
WE ARE TAYSIR! (Don't worry, he'll stop the WE stuff soon enough)
Nailah: Can you hear me Taysir? In that special way? Isn't the power intoxicating my love? I forgive you for everything, and I'll teach you to use your powers. But you must do what I say!


Taysir: NEVER! Here, take a look in my soul, maybe that'll help!
finally I'm free, evner though I can feel you holding my heart, I'm free!
Nailah: Taysir my love, I'm falling. Help me... I'm hurt. You hurt your beloved Nailah... Come back to help me! Taysir, please!
Taysir: May Allah be mercyfull on here, I won't listen! I MUST GO!
Naration: It would take ages until Taysir of the Five Lands would discover Nailah's final revenge... but now he uses a spell from the depths of there earth...
Taysir: She lives, I can feel it. One day, when I'm strong enough, I'll return to Rabiah and face her. Now, I'll search for the weak and innocent so I can be their champion. There is much to be discovered in the world that is now open to me.
Naration: ... a spell who will forever lock the worlds of Rabiah away from Taysir. Dominia's greatest hero can never go home again.
The end and the beginning as well.

For those of you confused by the ended (I'm sure someone is): Taysir has planeswalked away and Nailah cast a spell that locks him out of Rabiah. This will be a plot-point of the Homelands story.

The next time we see Taysir he has become a sage and is writing a history of the Brother's War. Unfortunatly I don't have that comic, so the next time we will REALY see him is at the end of the Ice Age comic, but we'll get to the eventualy.

Next week (Or at most the week after that) Dakkon Blackblade, my second favorite of the Magic comics!

[MORT]

Originally Posted by The Squirle master

Scanning this already took longer than I thought, so I wasn't realy in the mood to do all the other stuff as well. And I realy know squat about the american copywright laws, so I'm just going to stick by the rules the blogs that show comic-scans I frequent have, and one of those rules is "don't post the entire thing".

Well, you will not post cover then

Originally Posted by The Squirle master

Next week (Or at most the week after that) Dakkon Blackblade, my second favorite of the Magic comics!

Dakkon Blackblade

I can't wait...

[BTW]About two weeks and I'll have new scanner, so I'll scan map of Tamingazin (and thanks for your maps)[/BTW]

[The Squirle master]

Originally Posted by MORT

Well, you will not post cover then

Sorry, I don't have the cover. The dutch version bundles Arabian Nights #1 & #2 & Dakkon Blackblade in one big comic (kinda like a small TPB), and they used the Dakkon cover for the entire thing.

[MORT]

Originally Posted by The Squirle master

Sorry, I don't have the cover. The dutch version bundles Arabian Nights #1 & #2 & Dakkon Blackblade in one big comic (kinda like a small TPB), and they used the Dakkon cover for the entire thing.

I meant, that you could post entire comic except of cover .
Anyway, I suggest to put links of this thread and Dakkon's one in Short Stories or directly in Info Center thread.