“In this issue, Roy Thomas tackles another story by L. Sprague deCamp and Lin Carter titled ‘The Snout in the Dark‘. Originally assembled and based on a small fragment of Robert E. Howard’s work, Roy Thomas improves on the tale, ably assisted by artist John Buscema.”

(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, #106).

By BOB FREEMAN – PM Library Writer

John Buscema and Ernie Chan were a dynamic team and each and every page of Conan the Barbarian they worked on was a marvel to behold. Yes, time constraints sometimes meant the work suffered, but that was a rarity.

One of my favorite splash pages comes from this issue, a comic that is choked full of atmosphere and spectacular art. The comic opens with Conan on horseback, galloping toward the city of Meroe.

There’s so much energy on the page. The horse is a marvel, so kinetic, propelled across the stage seemingly without effort, with the barbarian looming large, his long mane of black hair swooping back from under the ill-fitting Stygian helmet.

One’s eye is drawn from Conan’s face to the imperfect oval of his Stygian shield. That alone sells the picture for me. Had it been drawn perfectly it wouldn’t look real, if you catch my meaning. It’s in the imperfection that the eye reads truth.

A Buscema and Chan pin-up is a wonder, as powerful as some art one might find in a museum. This image that sets the tone for the issue is a prime example of their brilliance.

REVIEW: Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #106

As Conan makes his way to the Kushite capital of Meroe, Amboola awakens in a dungeon, struggling to remember how he got there. He recalls being accused of treason by Queen Tananda. Drugged, he was tossed in a cell. As he regains consciousness, he notices a mist forming near him. From the mist comes a hulking hog-faced creature. It tears at Amboola’s body, killing the man, before disappearing back into the mist.

The next morning, fearful a demon is loose in the city, Afari informs Lord Tuthmes that Amboola’s ravaged body has been found in his cell, partially devoured. Tuthmes tells him rather than a demon, it is more likely the Queen who had Amboola slaughtered in one of her fits of rage. He advises Afari to punish the guards and be done with it.

Once the minister leaves, Muru, the Kordafan sorcerer who conjured the beast at Tuthmes’s behest, enters. Tuthmes is planning an uprising against the Queen and though he doesn’t trust Muru, he needs him if he is to move against Tananda successfully.

After his meeting with the sorcerer, Tuthmes makes his way through the seedy backstreets of Meroe until he finds Shubba, a street dweller. The Lord tells the wretch to spread the word on the street that Tananda had Amboola executed. The news travels fast, from the highest station to the lowest.

The next day, QueenTananda rides through the outer city marketplace with six palace guards. As the crowd becomes restless, her guard warns her that this has been a mistake. Then the rabble rise up and attack the royal entourage.

Conan witnesses the attack on Tananda as he makes his way through the crowd. The Cimmerian leaps to her aid and makes short work of the unruly mob. Queen Tananda has the captain of the guard executed for dereliction of duty and offeres the command to Conan who readily agrees.

Later, Shubba comes to Tuthmes with Diana (a Numedian slave he plans to offer to the queen) in tow. Needing to keep her loyal to him, even under threat of violence from the Queen, Tuthmes threatens Diana with the hog-like creature, warning it will be sent after her should she fail him. Diana agrees and is delivered to Queen Tananda the next day.

Suspicious of the gift, Tananda has Diana chained and is prepared to whip her unless she reveales Tuthmes’ plans. As Queen Tananda raises the whip, ready to strike the Nemedian, Conan intervenes, demanding the girl be let down from the chains.

CAPSULE REVIEW:  A breakneck issue, Conan is scarcely present, but commands the stage whenever he is. This is a grand setup, with plenty of political intrigues to entice the reader.

The story is from a fragment by Robert E. Howard, later completed by L. Sprague DeCamp and Lin Carter. Here, Roy Thomas adapts the tale, improving it, while Buscema and Chan make it come to life.

This is a thrilling issue that leaves the action unresolved, demanding you pick up the next issue. And I did, believe me.

On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this issue 8 skulls of my enemies. On eBay, this issue generally is available for less than $10, and as low as $5.

Alba Gu Brath – Bob Freeeman (aka The Occult Detective)