(Didn't put a lot of thought into that title, did they?) Mandel Astro, Communist dictator of the tiny island nation of Bota (Gee, I wonder who he was supposed to be!) orders Zoologist Dr. Valzo (no first name given) to search the seas for the Gorgos. It is his command that Valzo make at least one of the monsters serve him.
Aboard the yacht owned by the Bota government, Dr. Valzo uses a bathysphere to hunt the ocean bottom in the area near Long Island, where Gorgo and Ogra were last seen. After 16 days, he finds the comatose monsters on the ocean floor. He and a helper named Pedro then dive, Valzo with an electric prod in his hands. The prod is connected to the ship's main generators by a cable line. According to Valzo, it can generate a million volts.
They swim around the Gorgos for awhile, opening eyelids. When this gets no response, Valzo uses the electrified wand on Gorgo. This awakens the monstrous cub, and he goes for the divers. Desperately, Valzo hits him again with the wand. It seems that which wakes Gorgo can also knock him out again. They bind him with cables and pull him behind the boat, leaving Ogra still asleep on the ocean floor. Electrodes are attached to Gorgo, and used to knock him out whenever he regains consciousness.
When they arrive at Bota, Astro is there to greet them. Bulldozers are used to haul Gorgo up to shore. When he awakes, the still bound creature begins to struggle and snarls at Valzo. The scientist then shocks him again and orders the cables cut, saying he will not need them since he has taught Gorgo fear. He tells Astro he can have Gorgo trained in a month to perform any task he wishes, and the dictator is pleased.
Valzo is shown working with Gorgo, training him to follow commands such as uprooting trees. Astro shows up and expresses impatience, asking when Gorgo will be combat-ready. When Valzo tells him to be patient, Astro slaps him, saying "I would order you tried as a traitor if I did not need you now!" He then orders Valzo to have Gorgo ready for use against their neighbor within a week.
Exactly a week later, Gorgo and Astro's army are heading for the neighbor's borders. (Wait- didn't they say Bota was an island nation?) The unnamed nation's troops are unable to stand against Gorgo and wind up surrendering to Astro. When he meets with the local dictator, the latter threatens him with a pistol. Astro points out that Gorgo will be sent after him if he shoots Astro. The deposed dictator decides to flee instead.
This is when Valzo decides he's done serving Astro. He has Gorgo attack the ruler while he is addressing the people from a palace balcony. When the dust clears, Valzo is the new dictator. There is no real change as he orders new taxes, and seizure of crops and foreign-owned property.
Being busy with matters of state, Valzo leaves Gorgo in care of others. Sensing that these do not have Valzo's self confidence, Gorgo frightens them into retreating from him. He then forgets his anger and starts eating on some trees. Valzo arrives, and demonstrates his control over the beast by making him kneel before the man. He then orders the sergeant to prepare the troops for another invasion and is assured they will be ready by dawn.
Dawn finds them en route, with Valzo urging his limousine driver to greater speed. "It is 150 kilometers to the border of the country I wish to conquer today." About 2 hours later, they reach the first obstacle- a pillbox (sort of a concrete bunker with guns pointing in 4 directions) in the road. Valzo calls Gorgo and orders him to smash the pillbox.
It is at this point that Gorgo begins acting rebelliously, balking at the order. Valzo angrily threatens Gorgo, waving the electric rod in the reptile's face. A sudden swipe from Gorgo's paw breaks the rod and knocks Valzo over. He then attacks Valzo's army, who flees after firing a few rounds.
Valzo escapes in the car. He is planning to leave the country with the gold bullion he stashed on the yacht after seizing power. Gorgo is following him, ignoring other people on the way. Valzo reaches the yacht in time to see captain and crew deserting, frightened away by Gorgo's roar.
The deposed dictator manages to get the yacht going by himself. He heads out to sea. When he puts the controls on automatic, he walks back to look behind the boat. To his horror, he sees Gorgo swimming and gaining on the boat. In a hilarious gesture of futility, Valzo empties a handgun in the creature's direction. Gorgo trashes the ship as Valzo leaps into the water. After the yacht is completely destroyed, Gorgo turns his attention to Valzo. His snarling jaws are just a few feet away as the trembling scientist begs and pleads for his life.
As if he understands and pities the man, Gorgo turns away and leaves Valzo treading water. He swims back to the spot where his mother still sleeps and goes back to sleep next to her.
When I first read this issue, I expected Ogra to wake up halfway through it to come rescue her babe. It was a pleasant surprise seeing him get out of this fix on his own.
Special Thanks to Peter B. Hull for the Review and the Cover-Scan!!!
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