“This issue begins the four-issue adaptation of Norvell W. Page’s tale ‘Sons of the Bear God’. While not one of Thomas’ stronger efforts, it is intended as a direct sequel to ‘Flame Winds of Lost Khitai’, which was adapted from another Norvell Page story. This editor is still trying to figure out how dwarves could overtake the Aesir, but it is fantasy after all!”

(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, #109.)

By BOB FREEMAN – Paint Monk’s Library Writer

I often speak of Roy Thomas in almost glowing and near infallible terms, but he, on rare occasions, makes cringe-worthy missteps. Case in point: the issue(s) I am about to review for you.

I’ll be covering two parts of Thomas’s four part adaptation of Norvell W. Page’s “Sons of the Bear God,” with my contributions being a look at the first and third portions. I will be curious to see how my partners in crime deal with the second and fourth acts as I am just not a fan of the story.

It’s not a Conan tale, even though the Cimmerian is never out of character and the artwork continues to breathe life into the Hyborian Age.

This isn’t the first time one of Page’s novels has been adapted to feature Conan. Issues #32-34 of Conan the Barbarian featured Page’s “Flame Winds,” of which “Sons of the Bear God” is a sequel.

While Thomas does an admirable job of adapting Page’s story and inserting Conan in the starring role, “Sons of the Bear God” was an insufferable novel, in my opinion, greatly improved by porting it into Howard’s Hyborian Age. It was made almost bearable (please excuse the pun) by Buscema and Chan’s illustrations and Thomas’ comfort in writing Conan.

But the work still suffers. And so close to Roy’s exit from the title. Luckily, better stories are on the horizon, as #113-115 are a marked improvement.

REVIEW: Conan the Barbarian #109 

Conan and the wizard’s apprentice Erfu are traveling to Argos, passing through Shem, when they are ambushed by Shemite tribesmen. Wounded by an arrow to the shoulder, Conan is able to take down several of the tribesmen with both bow and sword before his stolen horse is cut down. As more attackers swarm them, the Cimmerian and wizard flee into the brush to hide.

Erfu attempts to frighten the Shemites away using trickery and deception disguised as magic, but he is soon assaulted by a strange mist and Conan is forced to rescue the diminutive wizard, plunging further into the high grass.

Conan strikes out at the mist, forcing it to dissipate. Moving forward, cautiously, they find the Shemites all killed, slain by the mist.

The Cimmerian and wizard keep moving, but they detect sounds of someone coming toward them, so Conan lifts Erfu over the grass to see who or what approachs. It is an Aesir warparty marching through the field. Conan, surprised to find Northerners so far south heads out to greet them, but stumbles onto dwarven slavers who seemingly hold the Aesir captive.

Conan cuts through the dwarves with ease, but is shocked to discover the Aesir do not join him in battle. The Cimmerian is recognized by one of the Northmen — It is Niord, who he served as a young man when they raided the borders of Vanaheim.

Conan is confused as to how a warrior like Niord could have been captured and enslaved by such creatures. The Northman replies that their strength was not in their sword-arms or whips, but in what they could summon.

The Cimmerian asked Niord and his men to join him in heading north, but they are interrupted by a savage roar. Conan turns to see a God Bear, taller than an elephant and ready to avenge the death of the dwarves.

CAPSULE REVIEW:  The issue is not as terrible as I remembered. It’s got a lot going for it. It’s well written, expertly drawn, and we get to see an old familiar face from the earliest issues of the series. In fact, it reads so much better than I remember that I suspect my displeasure with this four-parter lies not in the set-up, but in the follow-through.

The highlight of the story was Conan’s battle with the Shemites. Is there an artist that draws horses better than Big John Buscema? Yeah, I didn’t think so. The fluid movement of that battle, especially once Conan steals a horse and is riding against his attackers…

My favorite panel in the issue is very subtle, but powerful in its execution. Conan, on horseback, is riding toward a bow on the ground. He is leaning in the saddle, preparing to snatch it up to use against his foes.

Just a magnificent example of superior draftsmanship.

Here’s to hoping the rest of this storyline makes a liar of my fading memory.

On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this issue 7 skulls of my enemies.. On eBay, reading copies of this issue are readily available for less than $5.

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