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Tags: Review: Conan #51 – “Man Born of Demon!”
(EDITOR’S NOTE:Welcome to Countdown to Conan,
a series ringing in the return of Robert E. Howard’s popular
Cimmerian to Marvel Comics. We’ll be reviewing issues of Marvel’s
original Conan the
Barbarian series weekly
until Marvel releases their first new Conan comic books in 2019. This
review is written by Bob
Freeman.)
Finally, we’ve reached the end of Roy
Thomas’ adaptation of “Kothar and the Conjuror’s Curse” by
Gardner Fox. When I got the assignment to review this issue I first
revisited all the previous issues in the arc and tracked down a copy
of Fox’s Kothar tale for comparison.
Thomas’ adaptation of “Kothar and the Conjuror’s Curse” by
Gardner Fox. When I got the assignment to review this issue I first
revisited all the previous issues in the arc and tracked down a copy
of Fox’s Kothar tale for comparison.
Quite frankly, neither the original
tale nor Thomas’ re-imagining of Conan in the stead of Kothar work.
It’s not a good mix at all. Despite Gardner Fox’s obvious attempt
at a Conan homage, the characters are different enough that this
blend just falls far short of Howard’s creation and the mostly
stellar work Thomas had done in adapting the character thus far.
tale nor Thomas’ re-imagining of Conan in the stead of Kothar work.
It’s not a good mix at all. Despite Gardner Fox’s obvious attempt
at a Conan homage, the characters are different enough that this
blend just falls far short of Howard’s creation and the mostly
stellar work Thomas had done in adapting the character thus far.
It’s just not a good story. The
pacing is haphazard and, while there are some great ideas in the
tale, none of them really come to fruition, and that carries over
into Thomas’ adaptation. Roy did an admirable job of translating
Fox’s tale and mapping it onto the Hyborian Age, but ultimately,
this has to rank as the worst collection of issues in the run to
date.
pacing is haphazard and, while there are some great ideas in the
tale, none of them really come to fruition, and that carries over
into Thomas’ adaptation. Roy did an admirable job of translating
Fox’s tale and mapping it onto the Hyborian Age, but ultimately,
this has to rank as the worst collection of issues in the run to
date.
WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS!
Review: Conan the Barbarian #51
Conan arrives at Unos’s palace with a
covered cage and demands to see the regent that he might give him a
gift. The Cimmerian pushes his way into the palace where a bored Unos
allows him to speak. Conan reveals his “gift” — a magical
talking bird who informs Unos that Stefanya, rightful ruler of
Phalkar, still lives, and the previous regent was killed in a plot by
the court wizards, Thalkalides and Elviriom.
The bird also tells Unos he was born of
demonic magic, given form by the unholy powers of Belthamquar and
Thelonia. The wizards demand Conan’s immediate execution, but Unos
now fears the wizards’ treachery.
demonic magic, given form by the unholy powers of Belthamquar and
Thelonia. The wizards demand Conan’s immediate execution, but Unos
now fears the wizards’ treachery.
Away from the castle, the bird
shape-shifts back into the sorceress Lupalina, or Samandra as she was
known previous, and she and Conan wait for Unos in a tavern, who
comes seeking help in defeating the wizards. Lupalina/Samandra
summons the demons Belthamaquar and Thelonia, who slay the wizards
for their son. Unos, in “gratitude,” kills Samandra.
Meanwhile, Conan picks up Stefanya and
escapes with her back to Ravengard. The barbarian knows that once
Unos is rid of the wizards he’ll turn his attentions to her, the
rightful heir of the province.
escapes with her back to Ravengard. The barbarian knows that once
Unos is rid of the wizards he’ll turn his attentions to her, the
rightful heir of the province.
The two of them recover the body of
Zoqquanor but are set upon by Unos in the wild. The regent
disintegrates the flesh from Conan’s skeleton, but, thanks to the
magical amulet, the barbarian miraculously regenerates. Unos conjures
vines to entangle Conan, then turns to Stefanya. Sensing her
connection to the wizard Zoqquanor, he attacks the body, injuring the
girl.
Zoqquanor but are set upon by Unos in the wild. The regent
disintegrates the flesh from Conan’s skeleton, but, thanks to the
magical amulet, the barbarian miraculously regenerates. Unos conjures
vines to entangle Conan, then turns to Stefanya. Sensing her
connection to the wizard Zoqquanor, he attacks the body, injuring the
girl.
As she writhes in pain, Conan finds the
strength to break free of the vines and he grapples Unos, capturing
him in a mighty bear hug. The amulet sears through Unos’s flesh,
destroying him. Conan then places the amulet around Stefanya’s neck,
and she is brought back to life.
strength to break free of the vines and he grapples Unos, capturing
him in a mighty bear hug. The amulet sears through Unos’s flesh,
destroying him. Conan then places the amulet around Stefanya’s neck,
and she is brought back to life.
Conan then rides off into the sunset,
charging Stefanya to bury Samandra and to say a prayer over her and
to let the sorceress know that they will meet again in the afterlife.
Stefanya is heartbroken as she watches the barbarian ride away.
charging Stefanya to bury Samandra and to say a prayer over her and
to let the sorceress know that they will meet again in the afterlife.
Stefanya is heartbroken as she watches the barbarian ride away.
CAPSULE REVIEW: The less said about the story, the
better. Let’s look at the art. The cover, which features a great,
kinetic scene from Gil Kane, is a winner. The incomparable John
Romita Sr was brought in to rework the faces. Over all it’s a good
blend and a fun cover that could have used a better colorist’s
hand, but it was the mid-70s so we’ll let that slide a bit.
better. Let’s look at the art. The cover, which features a great,
kinetic scene from Gil Kane, is a winner. The incomparable John
Romita Sr was brought in to rework the faces. Over all it’s a good
blend and a fun cover that could have used a better colorist’s
hand, but it was the mid-70s so we’ll let that slide a bit.
As for the interiors, John Buscema
continues to be the definitive Conan penciler for me, but Dick
Giordano’s inks over Big John’s pencils seem rushed and
incomplete. The legendary Terry Austin was charged with inking the
backgrounds and performs this task admirably. I really like Glynis
Wein’s colors for this issue, particularly in the more fanciful,
astral sequences.
continues to be the definitive Conan penciler for me, but Dick
Giordano’s inks over Big John’s pencils seem rushed and
incomplete. The legendary Terry Austin was charged with inking the
backgrounds and performs this task admirably. I really like Glynis
Wein’s colors for this issue, particularly in the more fanciful,
astral sequences.
On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this issue a 6. Nothing special here, and you need only read it if you’re a completist. It would have rated a little higher if only the inks hadn’t been so disappointing. On eBay, this issue was readily available between $5-8. Purchase only if you must.
Alba Gu Brath – BF
(aka The Occult Detective)
(aka The Occult Detective)
