The Miniature Killers of Zelph

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Episode 31 of The Trigan Empire

The Miniature Killers of Zelph
aka The Black Duke
De zwarte hertog (Dutch title)
The Black Duke (Dutch title, translated)

Written by Mike Butterworth
Illustrated by Don Lawrence

The Miniature Killers of Zelph was originally published in 8 instalments in issues 527 (19 February 1972) to 534 (8 April 1972) of Look and Learn magazine.

It is reprinted in Volume 8 of The Trigan Empire—The Collection (the Don Lawrence Collection).

It is reprinted in Volume 3 of The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire (Rebellion).

Plot summary

Zel is the most important mineral on Elekton and is found in only one place: in the kingdom of Zelph. The king of Zelph, Draga, decides that his grandson Hara will succeed him after his death, and that Trigo will serve as regent until Hara comes of age. Duke Zappo, a distant cousin of the king, is angry at being passed over.

King Draga dies and Hara succeeds him. Trigo sends Janno as an envoy to Zelph. While Janno is riding in an auto with the Prime Minister, they are attacked by a Joth, a large black bird of prey. The Prime Minister suspects it was sent by the Black Duke—Zappo. On the way to the palace, Zappo stops at a toy shop and buys a box of miniature soldiers that can move, to give to Hara.

The next day, while walking in the palace garden, the Prime Minister is shot with a poison dart by one of the miniature soldiers. King Hara then appoints Zappo as the new Prime Minister. Janno takes part in an airshow, and one of the miniature soldiers is aboard with him. It sabotages the plane during the flight, causing it to crash. The miniature soldier is found burned and is sent to Janno. At night, the miniature soldier speaks to Hara, turning him against the Trigans. Janno reports to Trigo that things are not going well in Zelph, and Trigo sends Peric. Zappo sends a platoon of miniature soldiers in a small aircraft to assassinate Trigo. The plane attacks Trigo, who falls off his Kreed and is knocked unconscious. Just as they are about to kill Trigo, a Zargot appears, scaring the soldiers away.

Peric sees the burned soldier from the plane and discovers it is an electronic robot of incredible perfection. He repairs the robot and makes it obey him. Zappo again sends a platoon of miniature soldiers after Trigo. They try to shoot him, but a member of Trigo’s guard jumps in the way. Janno and Peric are also attacked by miniature soldiers, but they are defeated by their own miniature soldier. Trigo is pursued by the miniature soldiers. Janno overpowers Zappo, causing the soldiers to stop the chase. Zappo still manages to escape, but the miniature soldier follows Peric’s orders and kills him.