The Trigan Republic

« | »

Episode 20 of The Trigan Empire

The Trigan Republic
aka The Tyrant
The Tyrant (The Collection)
De strijd om de macht (Dutch title)
The Power Struggle (Dutch title, translated)

Written by Mike Butterworth
Illustrated by Don Lawrence

The Trigan Republic was originally published in 13 instalments in issues 403 (4 October 1969) to 415 (27 December 1969) of Look and Learn magazine.

It was reprinted in 1976 in 4 issues (28 February 1976—20 March 1976) of Vulcan comic.

It is reprinted in Volume 5 of The Trigan Empire—The Collection (the Don Lawrence Collection).

It is reprinted in Volume 2 of The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire (Rebellion).

Plot summary

Trigo abdicates and turns Trigan into a republic. He hands over leadership to Brag, Peric, and Zeros, marshal and head of the air fleet. Trigo and Janno depart for another part of the planet. The mathematics student Yorro sees this happen and wants to become dictator of Trigan. To achieve this, he wants to become immensely rich. He works for a whole year in poverty on a secret formula and finds three numbers. With these numbers, he travels to Monambo, a small country on the edge of the Trigan Empire. Using the numbers, he breaks the bank at the casino and becomes extremely rich. He gives Zeros a very expensive statue as a gift. In truth, Zeros could not afford the statue, but he keeps quiet about the fact that he received it. Yorro now wants Zeros to help him become dictator, so he invites all important people, including Janno, Peric, and Brag, to a party. Zeros’ bodyguard arrests everyone there, but Janno escapes.

Yorro now becomes the dictator of Trigan and wins the army’s loyalty by increasing the soldiers’ pay tenfold. Janno now goes in search of Trigo. Janno has a letter from Trigo sent from Zedd, the last outpost on the frozen continent. There, he crossed the great ice barrier in search of an extinct race of strange beings. Janno departs and reaches the great ice barrier. As soon as he climbs over it, he is immediately captured by strange figures. He is taken to a magnificent city, rich in jewels. The old man Matta brings him to the ruler of the land. It is Trigo—but Trigo does not recognise him. Janno discovers that Trigo eats a lot of the Zotus flower, which causes memory loss. Janno refuses to eat the Zotus flower.

Janno is sentenced to death and thrown to two monstrous Norvas. However, Janno manages to escape from the beasts. He returns to the city, knocks Trigo unconscious, and prevents him from eating his portion of Zotus flower. When Trigo regains consciousness, his memory returns. Together, they try to escape, but just before the ice barrier they are overtaken. Matta says he needs Trigo to lead his people. Trigo agrees to lead his people from Trigan as well.

Janno and Trigo arrive in Trigan City at the unveiling of a large statue of Yorro. Upon seeing Trigo, the troops surrender, and Trigo goes after Yorro. He captures him, and from then on Yorro must work under the palace in the computing center. Trigo once again becomes emperor of Trigan.