Tara on the Dark Continent #1
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeTara on the Dark Continent #1 is a foundational document in the history of AC Comics (then operating as Paragon Publications), serving as the solo debut for jungle adventurer Tara Fremont — one of the company's earliest and most enduring original characters, who would go on to become a core member of Femforce, AC's long-running all-female superhero team first launched in 1985. The issue simultaneously introduced space-faring heroine Stormy Tempest and the alien hero Astron, making it an uncommonly productive single issue for character debuts within the Paragon universe. Beyond its roster of firsts, the book stands as an early, self-conscious statement of Bill Black's creative philosophy: action-forward stories headlined by strong female protagonists drawn in the 'good girl art' tradition of the 1940s, years before that aesthetic found mainstream acceptance at larger publishers. That the entire issue — stories, art, cover, and editorial — was the work of essentially one creator operating outside the direct-sales market makes it a genuine artifact of Bronze Age independent publishing.
In "Challenge from the Stars!", Tara finds herself trapped on the Dark Continent after a desperate escape from Dr. Rivits, who holds her captive in hopes of unlocking cosmic secrets. With the alien's mysterious influence at play, Tara is thrust into a parallel universe where she rescues a strange creature—only to be pulled back just as the alien destroys Rivits' helicopter and vanishes into the sky. The story, written and illustrated by Bill Black with cover art by Bill Black, introduces a pivotal moment in Tara’s journey, culminating in the discovery of four enigmatic eggs left behind by the alien spacecraft.
In "Challenge from the Stars!", Tara finds herself caught between a mysterious alien crash and a dangerous human ambush. When she rescues the alien from a deadly underwater plant, she’s thrust into a tense standoff with Vic Marco and his men—only to be thrown through the air by the alien’s unexpected powers.
In "Dr. Rivits, I Presume?", Tara finds herself caught between Dr. Rivits, a man driven by obsession, and an otherworldly being whose motives remain shrouded in mystery. When the alien casts her into a parallel universe, Tara must confront a strange creature in peril—only to be pulled back to the Dark Continent, where the stakes grow even higher. With Mad Dog and Gip caught in the chaos, Tara uncovers a secret left behind in the form of four mysterious eggs, hinting at a connection far greater than she ever imagined.
In the heart of the Dark Continent, Tara faces her greatest trial when Na' Waga, the Witch Woman, sets her sights on stealing her beauty. After surviving a leopard attack and being captured by beast men, Tara is brought to Na' Waga’s cave, where a mystic mirror becomes the center of a deadly exchange. As Na' Waga revels in her stolen youth, Tara, now frail and old, finds a way to reclaim her strength—and shatter the mirror’s curse before it claims her completely.
In a galactic chase that spans stars, Stormy Tempest confronts the notorious Space Hag on her alien stronghold. Trapped and cornered, Stormy faces a deadly choice when the Space Hag orders her servant Yik to cast her off a cliff—only for Yik to make a surprising decision that shifts the balance of power.
Sissy and Roach are startled by a strange light that streaks across the sky—then veers straight toward them. When it lands, it reveals Astron, who wastes no time confronting Old Man Johnson, the groundskeeper, exposing him as an agent of Vortex.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Paragon Publications was founded by Bill Black in 1969 as a spare-time project, with Black writing, penciling, inking, and editing virtually all content himself, able to produce only about three issues per year across his entire line. Tara on the Dark Continent #1 appeared in 1974 as part of that expanding lineup, which had grown from Paragon Presents and White Savage (1970) through titles like Fem Fantastique, Captain Paragon, and Paragon Super Heroes; the artwork inside the issue was notably produced earlier — the 'Challenge from the Stars' story is dated 1971, and 'Dr. Rivits, I Presume?' is dated 1972 — indicating Black had stockpiled material before the title launched. The original Paragon books, including this issue, were sold via mail order through fanzine advertisements rather than through newsstands or comic shops, which would not exist as an organized distribution channel until the early 1980s. When Black transitioned to AC Comics and later to the direct-sales market, many of the Paragon-era characters — including Tara, Stormy Tempest, and Dr. Rivits — migrated into the AC continuity, with the classic Paragon material eventually collected in the 2012 trade paperback Bizarre Thrills: The Paragon Publications Story.
Trivia · 10 facts
- First appearance of Tara Fremont (Tara the Jungle Girl), one of AC Comics' earliest original characters, who later became a founding member of Femforce (#1, 1985).
- First appearance of Stormy Tempest, a science-fiction space-outlaw heroine who continued as an AC Comics character into the modern era.
- First appearance of Astron, an alien being who arrives on Earth and immediately destroys an agent of the enemy organization Vortex, in the story 'Encounter.'
- First appearance of Doctor Rivits, the villain who would survive to become one of Tara and Femforce's recurring major antagonists, per the issue's own editorial text.
- First appearance of Vic Marco and Janis Lawson, supporting characters introduced in the lead 'Challenge from the Stars' story.
- Published by Paragon Publications (the predecessor to AC Comics / Americomics) in 1974; all stories, art, and cover are by Bill Black, with inks on select pages by Bob Mosher, Wes Smith, and Orrin Lundgren.
- The issue is a 40-page, black-and-white magazine (8.5 x 11 inches) whose cover and select interior pages are printed in black ink on blue paper — a distinctive production choice characteristic of early Paragon publications.
- Interior story artwork predates the issue's publication date: 'Challenge from the Stars' is art-dated 1971 and 'Dr. Rivits, I Presume?' is art-dated 1972, indicating the issue collected stockpiled material.
- The issue includes a non-comics interlude — a four-page photo feature on actress Victoria Vetri and the 1970 Hammer Film production When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, mixing pin-up and film-fandom content alongside the original comics stories.
- The Stormy Tempest story from this issue was later reprinted (with a minor textual change) in Bizarre Thrills: The Paragon Publications Story #1 (AC, 2012), a 260-page trade paperback collecting key Paragon-era material.
Cast · 7 characters
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Reprints
Reprinted in Bizarre Thrills: The Paragon Publications Story #1 (2012)
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