(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) #14.)

By WALLY MONK – PM Library Editor

What do you get when you cross Robert E. Howard’s classic Cimmerian and Michael Moorcock’s Melnibonean prince?

You get Conan the Barbarian #14, skillfully written by the legendary Roy Thomas and drawn by the inimitable Barry Windsor-Smith. As icing on the cake, the story is plotted by Elric creator Michael Moorcock with some help from James Cawthorn.

One of the big drawbacks of this issue is the look of Elric. I have no idea who came up with it, or whose concept the pointed hat may have been. But whenever I read this issue, I can’t help but think of Elric as a thin, pasty lawn gnome without a beard.

Another problem with the issue involves the return of Zukala, the evil wizard who terrorized an entire village in Conan the Barbarian #5 with his daughter, Zephra. 

Conan rides through the wilderness of Koth, observing four black-robed men on unusual steeds chasing a frail, unarmed woman on her horse. Conan being Conan, he can’t just stand by and see her pursued and their potentially nefarious plans carried out, so he intervenes.

The eagles were sent by Zukala – a wizard Conan defeated earlier in the Marvel series (from the Zukala’s Daughter storyline in issue #5). The woman rescued is Zephra, Zukala’s daughter. Conan suspects a trap, but Zephra assures him that his father is no longer seeking revenge and needs the Cimmerian’s help. It’s interesting that Conan would even entertain this notion, given that Zukala was a complete megalomaniac in issue #5 and disappeared saying that “he would be back!”

Zukala is delighted to see his daughter return safely home with Conan in tow – and the barbarian warns the wizard that this had better not be an attempt on his life or some other trickery. As Zukala reassures Conan, the two go to a scrying pool – it is here where the old wizard tells Conan of Kulan-Gath and his search for Terhali, a powerful sorceress buried in a castle.

This castle was magically moved to Hyboria from a far away land called Melnibone. And it’s up to Conan to head to the castle and make sure Kulan-Gath doesn’t free Terhali and add her power to his own.

Meanwhile, we see Xiombarg, the Lady of Swords, in the land of Melnibone. She’s incensed that a barbarian thwarted her men. She sends a warrior named Prince Gaynor to Hyboria to defeat Conan, hoping to rid herself of the barbarian nuisance. It seems Zukala hasn’t been entirely honest – there’s a war between Law and Chaos going on in Melnibone – the faceless men pursuing Zephra were serving Xiombarg and Chaos. Zukala is sworn to serve the forces of Law and is using Conan for that purpose!

As Conan and Zephra head out to find Terhali and her sunken castle, they are interrupted by a man on a horse coming through a shimmering portal – Conan suspects danger and attacks. It’s the first combat between Elric of Melnibone and Conan the Barbarian!

***

High grades of this issue are tough to come by. At the time of this review, the highest CGC-graded copy I could find on eBay was listed with a $118 buy-it-now price. A CGC-graded copy at 8.0 was listed with a $59 BIN price. Ungraded copies are much easier to find and with a little searching, you can find one for under $10.

This issue can also be found in Chronicles of Conan #3, from Dark Horse.

As always, I am – Wally (AKA Paint Monk)