*REVIEW: Savage Sword of Conan (2019) #4*

By TROY CHRISMAN – Paint Monk’s Library Writer

Crash! Bang! Wallop!

Marvel’s Savage Sword of Conan title hits its fourth issue and literally cleaves its way through the latest chapter of the five-part “The Cult of Koga Thun.” Our favorite snow-born barbarian is up to his corded neck in foes, mysteries and swordplay as he and his companions, Suty and Menes, continue their quest for magic weapons the Stygian sorcerer Koga Thun seeks to gain absolute power.

The trio is driven by a magical map imprinted in the Cimmerian’s psyche, spurring them onward to either treasure or terror. As Conan and company take to the underground of the vast city, they are beset upon by an army of undead. Conan meets this threat in typical fashion – with sword and savagery, pressing ever onward to his ultimate goal.

Savage Sword #4 follows the unlikely trio’s battle through the undead army in ripping fashion. Enough with the pretenses here – Conan crashes his way into this issue cracking skull after skull and hewing kindling-dry limbs to and fro. Our barbarian and Menes cleave their path clear while Suty battles a injury that grows more debilitating by the minute.

With the undead army crawling ever closer behind them, Conan proves chivalry is indeed alive (in Cimmerian form, at least) as he hefts Menes and Suty to safety on a ledge high above the undead minions. Conan takes a break to enjoy the better things, taking the plug off a centuries-old wine skin that one of the sorry souls was carrying when he met his maker.

While the trio continue their descent into the catacombs, Suty’s wound is getting worse, as is the influence of Koga Thun. The sorcerer is very much aware of Conan and his friends’ actions and uses his foul magic to alter their path. This intrusion not only makes Conan aware of his presence, but also forces the barbarian to make some gut-wrenching choices as the foul sorcerer gets closer and closer, setting up what shapes up as a cataclysmic finale in SSoC #5.

CAPSULE REVIEW:  This issue is for those Conan fans who want to skip the intros and background and what to simply charge full bore into action, action and more action. Part four of this tale is jam packed with images of Conan cleaving enemy after enemy and delightfully so. But the coup-de-grace is the ever-tightening grip of Koga Thun behind the scenes. As the trio battles an entire undead army, the threats are both from within and without. This plot twist is the sort of thing that made Robert E. Howard’s character work so well – stories weaved within stories. Enemies are often dispatched only to reappear many times, much to the surprise of Conan and a third party thrown in just for more chaos and intrigue.

While the action is rampant in this chapter, we also see more character building for Menes, Suty and especially our barbarian. Hard choices are at hand for the Cimmerian with even higher stakes to come. I will still nitpick that the overwhelming presence of sorcery, undead and ancient magic just doesn’t seem to faze a character who at the pen of Howard found all things supernatural reprehensible and mind-numbing. I guess this new Conan is made of sturdier stock, or it just hasn’t fit into the story line yet.

I give this issue a frenzied 7.5 out of 10 for the exceptional action, but also the creeping hand that is the foul magic wielded by Koga Thun. This issue carries the story well and sets up a much-anticipated meeting between hard steel and vile sorcery.

Of course, points are also given for another excellent cover from Alex Ross. Conan is resplendent with  battle axe and fur, all the while juxtaposed with classic Savage Sword art in the background – brilliant!

Chapter 4 of Scott Oden’s 12-part novella “The Shadow of Vengeance” and a highly enjoyable letters page round out the issue.

Next up: Savage Sword #5 and a face-to-face with that vile Koga Thun!