Nilson Meets Hermy, or We're Not Lost...Just Misplaced

 

Originally published in: Albedo #1

Publication date:June 1984

Art and Story by Stan Sakai

 "Nilson Meets Hermy, or We're Not Lost...Just Misplaced"

In Brief: The start of an epic journey that will span three decades and see one rabbit become a great king before being brought low by the armies of man.

Summary:

After years of preparation the adventurer Nilson Groundthumper is finally ready to face the Forest of Eldenwood. Sadly as his map is a useless fake he soon becomes hopelessly lost.

Suddenly hearing a cry, he looks up and sees a mole begin menaced  by a wolf. Nilson is able to drive the beast off with a rock.  Nilson introduces himself as a former blacksmith apprentice and explains his quest to find the legendary ‘Well of Ancients’ and bathe his hands in it's enchanted waters, becoming the greatest swordsman of all time! He will graciously allow the mole to services as a guide as payment for saving his life. The mole says his name is Hermy and happily accepts the promise of food, protection and more food.

And so the two begin their quest!

Suddenly the pair are attacked by a large purple creature! Nilson is able to fight off the ‘Mole Mangler’ with his staff, while Hermy finds a safe hiding spot.

Continuing their journey the two stop for supper. When asked  how long until they reach the well Hermy cheerfully admits he has no  idea! Nilson sulks off leaving Hermy to eat all their food.

Later Hermy is asking  for something to drink, when Nilson shushes him.  There’s a dragon nearby and the slightest sound will enrage the creature! Suddenly Hermy tries to get Nilson’s attention…..there’s some Face Flowers right there and he hasn’t seen any in years!

Nilson starts yelling at Hermy, continuing even when he tries to interrupt him. Suddenly Hermy runs away, and Nilson realizes the dragon is right behind him.

 

Five kilometer's later Hermy catches up to Nilson, who's hunched over a sign......pointing to the Well of Ancients!

A thirsty Hermy jumps into the well. And before Nilson can bathe his hands, the water flies into the air and disappears leaving nothing behind.

Nilson is aghast, Hermy apologizes but  says at least he isn't thirsty anymore. Realizing what this means Nilson drags Hemry behind some bushes.

 

After three years he can wait a few more hours.....

 

Notes:

• The story continues in Albedo #5.  (Nothing important happens in those other issues of Albedo)
  
• On page one you can see Stan Sakai's very first tokage! These little dinosaur-lizards are a beloved staple of Stan's art.
  
• Nilson offhandedly mentions that elves exist in this setting. None of them ever appear on screen.
• Hermy appears to refer to himself as a mole, when later stories will establish him as a guinea pig. He never was that bright.....
  

Review:

And so the epic journey of Nilson Groundthumper (and Hermy) gets off to a humble start.

It introduces our leads well enough, and a lot of the gags got a chuckle out of me. Nilson's more of a jerk than he'll be even three stories from now, but Hermy is here pretty much fully formed.

This is probably the earliest full story by Stan Sakai any of us will ever see. Perhaps unsurprisingly Sakai's work was a bit rougher forty years ago, but you can still see the craft that will define his more famous work. The brief action scenes are laid out fluid and clearly, and the character's faces help sell a lot of the humour.