The Legend of Zelda (Valiant Comics)

"A long, long time ago, the world was in an age of chaos. There was a land called Hyrule, a legend called Zelda, an adventurer named Link, and evil known as Ganon, and three Triforces, with power over them all."

- Introduction

Valiant Publishing is the parent company that owned the Nintendo Comics System in 1990 and 1991. In those years, they published a number of Nintendo franchise comics, including The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros., and Captain N: The Game Master. The Valiant Publishing line was founded in 1990 by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter. After 1991, Valiant ceased to publish Nintendo-related comics, except for trade paperback collections of some of the series later on.

The Legend of Zelda issues ran February 1990 through August 1990, and sold at a newsstand price of $1.95 per issue. Each issue contained two 10-page stories, along with a handful of shorts, which were often times very humorous. There is some debate over how many Zelda issues were actually released, as there is cover art for issue #7, while issue number #6 was never cataloged. The matter became further convoluted when the comics were re-released in 1993 in book formats, where the issues were placed in different orders.

The comics are readily available on the Internet, as Zelda.com provided them as a free download for a time.

Issue #1
Originally released in February, 1990.

Part 1- He Also Serves
The story opens with Impa sharing a prophecy from the Triforce of Wisdom, telling of how Ganon will defeat Link, concour the North Castle, and enslave the people of Hyrule if Link steps foot outside of the castle. This news upsets Link, as he wants to go with Princess Zelda as she goes on a journey to visit some of the northern villages. However, he promises that he will remain at the castle.

As Link is practicing his sword fighting skills, he is approached by Miff, his fairy companion. Miff grows upset when she finds that Link let Zelda go off alone, and decides to use her magic to view Zelda's progress. When she looks into the fountain, she sees that Ganon and his minions have captured the princess' party. While this greatly disturbs Link, he knows that he cannot leave the castle, and he sends Captain Krin and his men off to rescue the party.

Later, a wounded Krin returns, claiming that he and his men were ambushed by monsters, and that he is the only survivor. He tells Link that the village of Rauru has been burned, and that only one who can save he princess is Link. Once again, though, Link refuses to break his promise. In anger, Krin strikes Link, calling him a coward. At that moment, a magic signal appears, with a message from Zelda, calling for Link to come to her aid. Before Link can respond, the message cuts out. As Link once more refuses to leave the castle, Krin tells him that he has let her down, and leaves the castle, presumably to find the princess.

Shortly after, guard stationed on the castle wall tells Link that there is a woman outside of the gate. When the gate is opened, Link finds Impa, who tells him that Ganon has once again placed the Spell of Eternal Sleep on Zelda, and she will never again wake up if he is unable to find her by midnight. Link confronts her about her earlier prophecy, and she tells him that even she is sometimes wrong. As Link remembers that it was the Triforce's prophecy, and not Impa's, he pulls out his blade and strikes down the imposter, who vanishes in a puff of smoke. Link then walks outside of the gate, and orders Watchman Erol not to open the gate for anyone.

Nearby, Ganon removes his Impa disguise, saying that it worked no better than the rest. As several of Ganon's henchmen wait behind some bushes, Link appears outside of the castle gate, and orders Erol to open the door. Erol starts to protest, but then gives in. As Link walks into the castle, he begins to chuckle. Suddenly, another Link appears, and asks Erol who came in. Erol is baffled, but they then realize what has happened. Link uses his sword to shoot a beam at the disguised Ganon, who then disappears.

The story is concluded by Zelda, Impa, Captain Krin and his men returning unharmed. After Link explains the story, he asks Zelda for a kiss as a reward, but she declines him.

Bonus 1
The first bonus, rather than a story, was a two-page map of Hyrule.

Bonus 2
The second bonus story was a prolouge, which covers how Link first came to Hyrule, met Impa, and fought ganon.

Issue #2
Originally released in March, 1990.

Issue #3
Originally released in April, 1990.

Part 1- The Power
The story begins with Link and Zelda trapped in an underground battle in Ganon's Castle as they attempt to reobtain the Magic Trophy. As a group of Iron Knuckles pursues them, Link fears for the princess' safety, he warps her out of the lair by pushing her into a Wallmaster. Link then stumbles across the Triforce of Power, which burns his hand upon contact. The Triforce remains with him, and he is able to defeat the iron Knuckles with ease. He then exits the underground lair and meets with Zelda. However, he is pursued by Ganon. The two engage in a battle, of which Link emerges the victor after using his newfound strength to heave a large rock on top of his foe.

Several of Ganon's Goriya minions offer to serve Link, as they believe that he holds more power than their master, but Link refuses. Ganon then bursts out from under the rock pile in a desperate attempt to stop Link from taking the Triforce of Power, but Link gravely wounds him. Ganon is then barely able to crawl back to a place where he can teleport back into his castle to heal. After his escape, Link gets into an argument with Zelda over the Triforce of Wisdom, in which he storms off to finish Ganon for good.

Part 2- The Price
The Price picks up where The Power left off. Following his defeat, Ganon flees to Parapa Palace, but his lust for the Triforce of Power consumes him, and is a giveaway of his location to Link. Link heads to the palace, and is greeted outside by the same group of Goriya that had offered to serve him. This time, he accepts their aid. He dons a robe similar in likeness to that of Ganon's, and feels that Ganon, who is watching him through a mirror, is close bye.

Princess Zelda seeks advice from the Triforce of Wisdom about Link's actions, and follows his trail to the palace. There, she is taken into captivity by Darknut Prime. At that moment, Ganon teleports to Link's location, where they engage in a short battle. Ganon attempts to reclaim the Triforce of Power, but the Triforce chooses to remain with Link.

Desperate, Ganon uses his last piece of leverage: Zelda. Darknut Prime brings her into the throne room, and Ganon threatens to kill her. Link plays what Ganon thinks to be a bluff, and says that she means nothing to him. Ganon orders his minion to kill her, but Darknut refuses to, and states that he has only one master. Enraged, Ganon attempts to use a spell on Zelda, but it is blocked by Link, who then casts him into a cage hanging over a bottomless pit.

Overjoyed, Zelda approaches Link, but Link demands that she turn over the Triforce of Wisdom which she brought along. When she refuses, and tells Link that she loves him, he attacks her, only to find that the Triforce of Courage has left him, and is protecting her. Zelda then reveals to Link what he has become, and that he has even taken on a physical likeness to that Ganon. He then realizes what the price of that power is, and chooses to throw to Triforce of Power into the bottomless pit, although he is aware that doing so will end his own life. Due to Link's loss of power, the cage that was holding Ganon disappears, and sends him tumbling down after the Triforce.

However, even as Link lays dying in Zelda's arms, the Triforce of Courage returns to him. He then wakes up in Hyrule Castle, virtually unharmed.

Bonus 1
The first bonus story is titled Secrets of the Triforce, and explains the differences between the three Triforces and their bearers. It makes up one page.

Bonus 2
The second bonus story is titled Zelda's Consumer Tips, and jokingly recounts some of the times that Link has been swindled. It makes up two pages.

Issue #4
Originally released in May, 1990.

Issue #5
Originally released in June, 1990.

Issue #6
Likely released in July, 1990. Undocumented issue.

Issue #7
Originally released in August, 1990.