(EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to The Classic Conan Countdown, a series of reviews focusing on the original 275 issues of Marvel Comics’ Conan the Barbarian, which were published from 1970 to 1993. This is a review of Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #4.)

By WALLY MONK – Paint Monk’s Library Editor

Today, Paint Monk’s Library takes a look at the fourth installment of Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian series. In this book – perhaps my favorite of the Thomas/Windsor-Smith run – we’re treated to an adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s famous “Tower of the Elephant.”

Adapting this tale to a Marvel comic book was no small feat. The story, originally published in a 1933 issue of Weird Tales magazine, is considered by many to be one of author Robert E. Howard’s best works. 

This popular tale was adapted by Marvel not once, but twice. It appeared originally here (in comic form) in Conan the Barbarian #4 and again in the Savage Sword of Conan #24. In the Savage Sword version, which was black and white instead of color, Roy Thomas reprises his role as author. But this time, John Buscema and Alfred Alcala took over providing the artwork. 

The story has made many other appearances. Dark Horse Comics did their own version in a two-issue story arc written by Kurt Busiek and illustrated by Cary Nord, Dave Stewart and Mike Kaluta.

TSR Games adapted the story into an adventure module for their “Conan: The Role-Playing Game” in the 1980s. Some even speculate that this story was the inspiration for the scene in the 1981 film, where Conan, Subotai and Valeria climb a tower, descending into a pit where they battle a giant snake while pursuing a large jewel!

The third episode of the Conan animated series is clearly based on the story. The 1997 Conan the Adventurer live-action series pilot episode – a two-parter – is called “The Heart of the Elephant,” featuring an evil wizard named Hissah Zul. 

In this 1970s Marvel comic, the ending is cleaned up, presumably for compliance with the Comics Code Authority. I won’t spoil the ending of the comic book, but it is far less gory than the ending of the actual Howard tale.

Review: Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #4

Conan has made his way to Arenjun in Zamora. At a tavern, he overhears a bragging slaver from Koth, who talks about the latest abduction he’s made – a handmaiden who he claims he can “get over the Zamorian border” by nightfall the next day. As his bragging continues, he mentions that she is so beautiful someone would trade the “treasure in the Tower of the Elephant” for her.

It’s here where Conan interjects, asking why no one has ever climbed the tower and stolen this famous jewel. When the Kothian replies that scaling the sheer, glass-sided structure is impossible, Conan tells him if someone had the courage to do so, they would. Of course, a fight ensues over Conan’s choice of words – this Kothian is no coward, and he’ll show Conan as much!

Conan slays the loud-mouthed Kothian and is now determined to find this fabled treasure located in this mysterious tower. As he sneaks out of the tavern, he heads over to the strange courtyard surrounding the tower, where he witnesses a robed figure entering the guarded gate. We learn this is Yara, the wizard and master of the tower. Conan recalls a tale he had heard in another land about Yara laughing in the face of a noble and holding aloft a powerful gem.

As Conan jumps the wall and enters the courtyard, he finds a dead guard. He’s soon nearly assaulted by a man named Taurus of Nemedia, who is a thief planning to rob the tower as well. After a few words, the duo decide that two scaling the tower will be more successful than a lone attempt at success.

Soon the pair learns that the tower is guarded by lions – silent lions who give no warning of their approach. Taurus throws a vial of Black Lotus powder, quickly disposing of three. But a fourth waits in hiding, and after a brief struggle, Conan and Taurus defeat it as well.

Climbing the side of the glass-smooth tower, Conan notes that the side is encrusted with jewels – a fortune to anyone who could claim them. But when they reach the roof, Taurus runs ahead of Conan into a doorway. But he hasn’t outsmarted the Cimmerian – moments later, there is a scream, and Taurus’ life is cut short by whatever lies inside the tower door. 

A giant spider has made its lair within the first chamber of the tower and disposed of Conan’s short-lived companion. The chamber in which the spider lives contains thousands of jewels littered across the floor – it is a king’s ransom. And when Conan kills the monstrosity, he’s tempted for a moment to begin collecting all of the jewels he sees strewn about. But another unseen door in the chamber beckons.

Conan opens the door and enters before realizing he is now trapped with what is inside.

What is this mysterious being, and will this be the end of our favorite Cimmerian? Or will he defeat the green monster that sits in chains and win the prize of the jewel in the tower?

CAPSULE REVIEW:  This was easily my favorite of the first dozen issues of  this series. Barry Windsor-Smith’s art is taken to a new level with this particular issue, and it’s the first comic in the series where the opening page isn’t a beautiful splash panel. Perhaps there is more story to tell here with narration and words, or it could be that Windsor-Smith was trying something different with the introduction page.

The influence of  Howard’s peer HP Lovecraft is very obvious in this story, and made even more clear in the resolution to Conan’s adventure. It’s got a much darker ending than many other Conan stories that will follow. As a kid, I remember reading this issue with a flashlight at night and the imagery of Conan meeting the chained elephant scared me pretty badly.

Once again, Windsor-Smith and Thomas do great justice to an original Conan story. If you collect just a few key Conan comics, this one is one to buy. To be fair, I have not read the Savage Sword edition of this story to compare this one with; but that doesn’t matter, as this adaptation is still quite compelling on its own and a must-read for Conan fans. As a comic book that adapts a treasured Conan story, I would easily rate this book an 8.6 out of 10.

High and medium grades of this issue are very affordable for such good book. As of this review, a CGC graded 6.5 copy was available on eBay with a buy-it-now of $69.95. Another was listed at CGC 9.2 at $168.75. An ungraded copy remained unsold in completed listings with a $39.99 starting bid, while another sold with a buy-it-now of $17.99.