(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) #118.)

By JOESEPH SIMON – PM Library Writer

This issue features the second appearance of the red-haired force of nature, Red Sonja, and it’s definitely something to cheer about! It’s also near the end of the Makkalet storyline. For me, there were some good stories during the Makkalet arc, but I didn’t particularly like the city or the setting.

I think it was more confusing than it had to be and Makkalet doesn’t feature prominently in future stories. I suspect others felt the same way about these tales.

Dean Plakas is correct in his assessment of the conservative nature of Barry Windsor-Smith’s Red Sonja in his review of Conan the Barbarian #23. I’m glad other artists gave her the trademark look that remains popular today. I’m not quite sure her rise in popularity would have sustained itself otherwise.

My critique of Sonja’s appearance is not made to diminish her personality or impact in the stories. She has plenty of both. I do love Smith’s artwork, but many of his women look the same and are not as memorable as a result in a visual sense. Red Sonja manages to stay away from the familiar-looking Smith women to a degree.

So what of the story of “The Song of Red Sonja?”

Review of Conan the Barbarian #24

Once again, our scene is set in a tavern. As with many such locations in the Hyborian Age, ale flows freely and women are dancing. The dancing woman in question this night is Red Sonja. Conan has a front row view with everyone else in the crowded bar captivated and chanting her name (as Son-ya.)

Another common element in Hyborian taverns are brawls – one of which quickly ensues when a companion to Red Sonja’s party, Big Jax, wants Sonja to sit with him. Big Jax, sadly, had part of his head cleaved off by an axe in a previous battle and it’s made him rather dull-witted. This escalates into a fight with Conan that turns into a full-fledged bar room brawl.

Conan and Sonja, having their fill of battle, run outside to jump into a pool of water for an improvisational dip to cool off. Sonja plunges in, and re-emerging from the water has taken off her chain mail top. Before things can turn PG-13, Romantic Red teases Conan and they get out of the pool.

I don’t quite recall where, but I remember reading about how this scene did have edits to make it more reader-friendly. Remember, we’re not talking about covering up full nudity. Smith, no doubt, knew the rules of Marvel, a primary rule seemingly being that “sometimes less is more.” My memory on this continues to be lacking, but I believe there was a re-printing, perhaps a giant-sized, treasury edition, that showed Smith’s real intentions for the scene.

The story shifts to palace guards asking the tavern owner about the brawl. While they discuss the details, the guards realize that their horses are being stolen….by Sonja and Conan! The end of the first part of the story sees our red-spirited beauty and her enamored barbarian friend taking the road towards the royal palace.

The second part of the comic begins with a Howard-penned poem referencing the man called Kharam-Akkad. When we next see Conan and Sonja, they are facing a tower (Roy Thomas’ and Robert E. Howard’s fascination with towers apparently continues!)

Towers, as all readers know by now, are never good for Conan. Ignoring his past encounters with previous structures like these, our Cimmerian attempts to arouse Sonja in talk and bodily bravado only to be punched squarely in the face, with enough force to fall back into some bushes.

Speaking of personality…Conan responds with “By Crom, girl — I’ve killed men for less than that!” and Sonja mic-drops Conan with “For what? For not letting you kiss them?“

An interesting sidenote is Red mocking Conan for pronouncing her name as Son-ya – “you pronounce my name as if there is apish blood in you” she says. I thought of the Hulk when I read Sonja’s comment!

Into the tower the pair travel, luckily entering a riches-filled room high inside the structure. Conan is enchanted by the treasures while Red says wisely to check the corridors for guards and more danger.

In my review of Conan the Barbarian #21, I mentioned how Conan was not quite “king material” at this point. He has much to learn. Even here, on a basic level, he is still learning. At least Red knows to police your area!

Conan goes to secure the room as requested and Red comes across a bejeweled serpent tiara. One moment all seems promising, the next Conan hears her screaming and he finds himself racing to her aid. This is the end of “Part Two.”

What kind of mess has the fire-haired Hyrkanian got herself into now? And how does Conan end up learning yet another lesson about women and ending up with another “Charlie Brown” moment?

CAPSULE REVIEW: This is a bittersweet issue. While I may be disappointed with the artistic interpretation of Sonja, I find Barry Windsor-Smith to be a great artist with a renowned style. Without his artwork, Conan may never have reached 24 issues. Roy Thomas is to be credited as much as Smith, and as a team, they did rule supreme (even if there were moments of occasional tension!) Either way, they created something different, something new, something challenging for the 1970s while standing the test of time even today.

It is then sad, as this issue is the last of the Roy Thomas / Barry Windsor-Smith run. It’s not entirely bad news, as Smith’s time with Conan helps propel him to greater heights in his career. We, as fans, can purchase many different reprints and collections representing this grand period of Conan. And it won’t be the last time we find these creative juggernauts working together.

I think it will be interesting as we progress further in the Classic Conan Countdown to see how the team dynamic changes as Roy Thomas works with new artists.

Creativity when shared can be powerful, creating things that otherwise would not exist with just one or the other or with someone else involved. Commonly acknowledged with great bands and musicians, collaborations in comics can be just as rewarding. Robert E Howard, Roy Thomas, and Barry Windsor-Smith have been and always will be known as a team worthy of reading as much as they were when these issues were first released.

Storywise, Red Sonja is the saving grace of this particular comic. Place any other female that Conan has met to this point in the series and you would not have the same story. You can, however, replace Conan with another heroic barbarian hero in this specific story and it won’t affect the dynamic at all.

No one knew that Red Sonja would soar to great fame – given that she did, I would rate this issue a 7.5 out of 10. Seeing that this is the end of a legendary creative team up, I’ll kick the score up to an 8.5.

On eBay, copies of this issue in ungraded condition were readily available in the $35-60 range.