Don Glut improves the vocabulary of his writing, and Graylin is no longer an idle 'damsel in distress'
Dagar the Invincible issue number 9 is a great improvement over the last one. It's not a spectacular sword and sorcery tale, in fact it's kind of standard - basically boiling down to 'evil sorcerer hires barbarian hero to retrieve magic item stolen by one of its victims who needs it to save a life' - but the improvements in this issue aren't really plot or art related.
Instead, writer Don Glut vastly improves his vocabulary. I don't know what brought about this sudden change, whether it was at the request of the editors, or a personal choice by Glut. While he does occasionally go overboard with passages like:
"For lingering moments the anguine monster fastens upon the megatherium..."
overall, it's a welcome change.
The other improvement here is in the character of Graylin. Contrary to the cover image and caption where she stands idly by while a monstrous snake attacks coupled with the words
"Two warriors combine their might against a giant foe"
- right from the issue she changes from being the passive observer she has been in the past, to an active fighter, aiding in Dagar's battles and other perils. Going as far as actually telling him
"If I am to be companion to a warrior, I won't be a helpless damsel who does nothing while the man she loves is off slaying dragons!"
While Dagar is still a fairly standard sword and sorcery title, if it continues to improve it could become one of highlights of the genre.