The Faith Healer

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Episode 54 of The Trigan Empire

The Faith Healer
aka The Gambler
Nastor, the Faith Healer (The Collection)
De genezende gokker (Dutch title)
The Healing Gambler (Dutch title, translated)

Written by Mike Butterworth
Illustrated by Don Lawrence

The Faith Healer was originally published in 6 instalments in issues 718 (18 October 1975) to 723 (22 November 1975) of Look and Learn magazine.

It is reprinted in Volume 11 of The Trigan Empire—The Collection (the Don Lawrence Collection).

It is reprinted in Volume 5 of The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire (Rebellion).

Plot summary

During water planing, Janno is run over by a speedboat. He is brought to the hospital unconscious but recovers quickly. However, he continues to suffer from headaches. Nastor, a professional gambler, is wandering the harbor, mourning his losses. He is struck by lightning and falls into the water. The next day, he is found on the beach by fishermen. When he wakes up, he can move metal objects. The people from the fishing village attribute strange powers to him and flock to him with their ailments. He pretends to heal them and asks for money in return.

Janno suffers a headache attack during a flight and his plane crashes. He is banned from ever flying again. Janno reads in the newspaper about Nastor’s strange powers and seeks him out. He places himself under Nastor’s treatment. Janno genuinely starts to improve.

Nastor is visited by Zudd, the gangster king whom he knows from his gambling days. Zudd demands ninety percent of his income. Peric goes to Nastor and wants to examine him to see if he is a charlatan. Peric discovers that Nastor has an increased electrical charge and that he has altered the charge in Janno’s body as well. Janno promises to drive away the gangster king, and Nastor promises to use his gift for good.