
This is the tale of Trigo and his eponymous Trigan Empire, which implausibly rises from the primitive nomadism of the Vorg tribesmen who Trigo rules to building starships - all within his lifetime. It's solidly in the tradition of John Carter or the Lensmen or Flash Gordon, and - unfortunately - it too reflects the casual racism of the '60s and '70s and earlier periods. The Trigans all tend to be blond, blue-eyed Aryan types and their chief foes, the Lokans, are all drawn with a distinctly Asian cast of feature (as is Trigo's turncoat brother Klud, who's the only Vorg to sport a Lokan-style goatee). And we can only try to forget the green-skinned, ersatz Africans of Daveli.
In its inspiration, The Trigan Empire is a retelling of the history of Rome. The city of Trigan is built on five hills (two fewer than Rome's); its people are tutored by the Tharvs, ersatz Greeks who are far more civilized and advanced than either Vorg or Loka; the city is a beacon of the republican virtues celebrated by Cicero; and its ruler is another Augustus (but with the heroic prowess of a Herakles).
Despite its political incorrectness and its absurd plots, The Trigan Empire remains a favorite - if now guilty - pleasure, and I'm glad I managed to score a copy to own again.