(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) #15.)

By JOESEPH SIMON – PM Library Associate Editor

Conan the Barbarian deserves a ton of credit for the extra mile that Thomas, Windsor-Smith and company went with the start of the long-running series.

Imagine if the ease and widespread instant communication of the internet existed back when Conan was first being published. In the reviews leading up to this one, Wally, John and myself have mentioned Thomas adapting Howard stories and poems that did not include Conan into Conan stories; Conan crossing over (albeit unofficially) with Fritz Lieber’s Fafhrd and Gray Mouser, and bringing Odin and the Valkyries (and Brian Boru) in to a story.

Those of you who read Wally’s review of the last issue know that not only did Conan appear in a cross-over with Michael Moorcock’s Eternal Champion Elric, but Thomas co-plotted the two issues with the legendary Elric creator himself.

Robert E. Howard and Conan were extremely popular in the fantasy circles – as was Roman mythology, the historical figure of Brian Boru, Fritz Lieber and his fantasy duo, and of course Michael Moorcock and Elric. All these characters have resonated in many different ways with lots of people.

Based on the ingenuity of Thomas and his artist – the groundbreaking crossovers and quality content – I believe that if the internet of today existed back then, Conan would have been an international trailblazing comic series almost immediately.

Another thing to marvel (pun intended) is Michael Moorcock co-plotting this two issue story line. Today it is common to see film, TV, prose and other non-comic book talent step into the world of sequential art. Back then, it was far more rare.

Not only was Moorcock a very well-known author at the time, he was involved with music. Bands such as Blue Oyster Cult (one song was included in the original Heavy Metal soundtrack) and the space rock band Hawkwind wrote songs about his stories and characters.

Moorcock was even part of Hawkwind for a period of time and had his own band, Michael Moorcock & The Deep Fix (which included members of Hawkwind).

Even now, it is amazing that all these things happened in the early run of Conan the Barbarian. I would love to know which individuals were behind all of these extraordinary facets of the series. I have to imagine Roy Thomas was instrumental to a lot, if not all of it.

It should be noted that J. Cawthorne co-plots with Moorcock on this issue (just as he did in the last one). Cawthorne is a fantasy illustrator, comic artist and writer whose creative output is defined by Moorcock. Cawthorne started illustrating prose serials and comic scripts in England in the late 1950s. He started with Moorcock in the 1970s, including a comic on the band Hawkwind in 1971 and an Elric comic strip that was never published around the same time.

Many collaborations later, Cawthorne would do graphic novel adaptations of Stormbringer and other Moorcock stories that the author himself found to be the idealized version of Elric. Perhaps this is the root of Moorcocks problem with the way Elric was represented in Conan the Barbarian.

So how did the Conan crossover and Marvel collaboration hold up?

Review: Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #14

The previous issue sets the stage for Conan the Barbarian #15. Our Cimmerian, through magic-using Zephra, a lady whom he saved from danger, is re-introduced to the wizard Zukala. Zukala is a character from earlier in the series (Conan the Barbarian #5). This is interesting, as we find out Zukala is an agent of the Lords of Law. He is in the service of Lord Arkyn, a character from Moorcock’s Corum series. Zukala lures Conan to do his bidding with the promise of gold. Unknown to the barbarian, Zukala’s enticement also leads to Conan doing Lord Arkyn’s bidding (just to keep score, Conan is now acting in the service of a Melnibonean lord).

Zephra and Conan ride off, only to encounter Elric arriving through a dimensional gateway from Melnibone to Hyboria. After hostilities and a brief combat, the group comes to terms and joins forces as a team of three (Elric, Conan and Zephra).

Our heroic trio is quickly attacked by Lord Gaynor and his chaos pack until Gaynor and company vanish in an apparent firebolt strike.

Conan, Zephra and Elric decide to go after the Melnibonean villains, and Conan remarks that “they’ll go to the Yagala Towers (where he’s been led by Zukala to believe there is gold!)” In Conan’s world, there’s no doubt a tower is a symbol of temptation tempered by danger. Every other issue or so, it seems that a fabled tower arises!

Conan the Barbarian #15 begins as our heroes make their way to Yagala Towers to finish off the agents of chaos. More specifically, the comic begins with battle as the trio is attacked by demonic creatures on their journey. A short break after seemingly defeating the creautres reveals that – unknown to them – Xiombarg, the Queen of Chaos, is watching afar! In a dialog with herself, she mentions that she is arch-enemies with Arioch, Duke of Chaos, whom Elric serves.

Our heroes defeat waves and waves of demonic creatures and are getting close to the Yagala Towers. Conan predictably mentions the gold of Yagala numerous times. They must cross the Singing Lake, a lake enchanted by Kulan Gath, remarks Elric. He also mentions that the reality of what he sees is different than what he viewed from his dimension in Melnibone. It’s remarkable how easy it seems that those of Melnibone are able to view things in Hyboria, much that it is interesting that Elric would know of Kulan Gath.

There is a brief transition showing Zulaka watching the trio from afar via mystical means, wondering if he has sent his daughter to her doom. He puzzles over his previous quest to rule Hyboria.

Our heroes find a boat made of the skeleton of a fearsome monster and float over to the towers. The stage for the next battle is quickly set as they come to shore. A fallen star is seen and Elric surmises that it is Lord Gaynor and the chaos pack arriving. Soon, the heroes see a lighted window and the smell of incense wafting from one of the rooms of the tower. Elric, having seemingly met Kulan Gath before, accurately states that the sorcerer is in the room.

What will happen next?
All the pieces are nearly in play. Godlike beings are using a wide
number of heroes and villians to make moves in Hyboria. Conan, Elric,
and Zephra vs Kulan Gath, Lord Gaynor, and the Chaos Pack. The Green
Empress has yet to appear!

CAPSULE REVIEW: Like myself, you may wish to know how Elric knew of Kulan Gath. This issue made Conan an agent of Lord Arkyn (I’m curious if Crom was offended). Could Kulan Gath be from Melnibone? The possible implications of that are fascinating when you consider Kulan Gath was also integrated into the Marvel Universe.

There is also another interesting observation. Zukala and his daughter, Zephra, are both agents of Lord Arkyn, as is Conan although he is unaware. Elric is in service of Arioch. Xiombarg, the Queen of Chaos, is sending waves of creatures into Hyboria to take out her enemies there. Thoth Amon is mentioned (who first appeared in name only in Conan the Barbarian #7) and soon Kulan Gath – who is said to rival Thoth Amon – are all part of this scenario. The amount of powerful testosterone in these two issuers is immense! This is the sword-and-sorcery equivalent of the Celestials, Galactus and other cosmic beings showing up in the Fantastic Four or Avengers.

Moorcock must have had fun with this Conan story. His Eternal Champion series – which is still ongoing – is very intertwined. It is comparable to a shared universe with a long time line. Prince Gaynor, the chaos pack, and Xiombarg are all characters that appeared in the 1971 novel The Queen of Swords. This was the second book in the Corum series. Corum, like Elric, is an incarnation of the Eternal Champion. The book was published in 1971, where Conan the Barbarian was published in March of 1972.

I very much think that Moorcock meant these two issues to be canon within his Eternal Champion series. I think historically, this crossover makes a huge impact. Conan and Elric are both legacy ceations. Crossovers are more common now than in 1972, but the big difference here is most crossovers with legacy characters are not written by the creators of said characters.

While unfortunately, Robert E. Howard is not on hand to collaborate in the story (Thomas is a respectable substitute) having Elric with his creator on hand is amazing and rare. You can’t say that with other characters like this from comics or pulps such as Batman, Superman, the Lone Ranger and others. Their creators have long passed.

I also believe the story allows Conan to see a greater range to magic, other dimensions – and that he can stand against powers that are vast and far beyond his imagining. While not referenced after these issues by Conan, the dangers he faces in this issue and the previous one prepare the barbarian for dangers he will face far down the road.

For these reasons and more, I must disagree with Wally’s assessment of Conan the Barbarian #14. I give this issue (AND #14) a solid 9 out of 10. I have both issues nicely bagged and boarded. If a T-shirt was available, I’d have that, too.

• Joeseph Simon