Arak #8

In the story "Prologue" from Arak #8 (1987), Arak recalls a fateful moment from his past among the vikings, when his clan claimed a massive whale carcass only to be ambushed by a rival tribe. After falling in battle, he is taken to Valhalla by a valkyrie, where he confronts Thor himself—only to declare that He-No, not the Norse god, is the true God of Thunder. With Loki’s quiet encouragement, a trial by combat ensues, and Arak must prove his worth by lifting Mjollnir, the mighty hammer of thunder.

In "Les dragons existent," Arak and Valda arrive in a Chinese port teeming with dragon-prowed ships—only to face a real dragon erupting from the sea. After Arak drives it off, he’s saved by Haakon, his former comrade turned Byzantine ambassador, whose brash offer to slay the beast ignites tension with local officials. When a mysterious armed woman suddenly demands to meet Arak as the "dragon-slayer," the hunt for answers begins.

In "La malfaisance du monstre," Arak is drawn into a growing threat when an old man and his daughter plead for his help against a river dragon terrorizing their city—claiming it’s no natural beast, but a creature born of malice. Though hesitant at first, Arak’s resolve hardens when the dragon returns during a feast, revealing its summoner through the sorcery of Malagigi: none other than Angelica, servant of the Serpent Lord.

In "L'île de la cité," Valda and Malagigi journey to the forgotten isle of Greeramada, a once-beautiful sorceress now twisted by time and ambition. There, they uncover her dark pact with Brunello, who’s been hired to steal the sacred remains of St. Denys—intent on resurrecting the saint to grant her unimaginable power.

In "La nuit de la mort," Valda and Malagigi face off against the sorcerer Greeramada in a climactic clash to prevent him from harnessing the spirit of the resurrected St. Denys. With the reluctant aid of Brunello, they must confront dark magic and deadly traps in a desperate bid to stop his rise.