“Roy Thomas continues his adaptation of Norvell W. Page’s “Sons of the Bear God”. In this third installment, Conan is taken away by dwarven guards on charges of treason and stirring up rebellion. Will the Cimmerian escape the clutches of King Aosoka and succeed in an attempt overthrow the dwarves?”

(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) #111.)

By BOB FREEMAN — Paint Monk’s Library Writer

Roy Thomas’ near perfect run on Conan the Barbarian is almost at its end. This issue has to rank as near the lowest of his creative output. It’s a pain for me to read, truthfully. The only thing that gets me through it is the absolutely beautiful artwork that Buscema and Chan deliver.

Reading this adaptation of Norvell W. Page’s “Sons of the Bear God” leads me to compare it to the current state of Conan in the Marvel Universe.

As much as I loathe what’s happening in the pages of Conan the Barbarian, Savage Sword of Conan, Age of Conan: Belit, and Avengers: No Road Home (Man, Conan sure gets around), from a story standpoint, each and every one of the titles released thus far in 2019 is better than the “Sons of the Bear God” storyline… damning praise, but there you have it.

But, and this a pretty big ‘but’, not a single issue of these new releases hold a candle to the illustrative genius on display, even in this lesser work.

John Buscema and Ernie Chan, who now both sit beside Crom on his mountain, rarely strayed from perfection. We were lucky to have them.

REVIEW: Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #111 

Tossa sensuously dresses in the morning as Conan wakes. He rebukes her for calling herself his wife. He has no interest in being betrothed. As they dress, the Cimmerian talks to her about the slaves of the city needing to rebel against their diminutive overlords when there is a knock on the door.

Conan thrusts open the door, ready to do battle, but finds a family gathered on his doorstep. They are the family of Visimar, the Aesir warrior he cut down the night before. As is their tradition, they are there to offer themselves up as slaves to the victor.

Conan sends them away, giving them a gold chalice that they might buy back their freedom. As they leave, Erfu rushes in with news that the long-eared priest overheard Conan’s talk of a revolt and soldiers have been dispatched to bring him before the king.

As the sound of the approaching soldiers resounds outside the swelling, Erfu accuses Tossa of being a wife to as many warriors as there are in the Aesir camp. Tossa attacks him, and Conan has to separate them.

The dwarven soldiers arrive and lead Conan away. Once alone, Tossa scolds Erfu for his ruse as he begs forgiveness, calling her “Highness”.

Conan goes with the soldiers peacefully. The entourage is soon joined by a band of Aesir. Once they arrive en masse at the palace stairs, the priest orders Conan to be disarmed and slain, but Conan charges the dwarf and pulls off his ceremonial ears.

Clutching the ears, Conan avoids the attack of dwarves and Aesir alike as he rushes into the palace, barrings the door behind him. The Cimmerian then sets out to find the throne room, having to fight his way past dwarven archers and swordsmen.

Finally, Conan uncovers the throne room and he bursts inside only to find King Aosoka sitting upon his throne with but a tapestry of mesh netting between them. Conan attempts to thrust it aside, but a surge of electricity courses through his body. With a mighty effort, Conan tears the netting free and hurls it at his tormentor, but it passes straight through the king.

The Cimmerian approaches and discovers the king is but a mirrored reflection. The palace guard finally gathers and attack, but Cona cuts his way through them, running out of the palace. Seeking higher ground, he scales the pyramid outside, taking note of the blue globe at the top.

The globe is tied to another and they in conjunction allow him to see far off into the distance.

Conan puts on the priest ears that he had been carrying with him and he hears an Aesir, Tossa’s brother Thanamund, across the courtyard urge him to traverse the thin brass rod that stretches between the two buildings that separate them.

As Conan makes his way slowly across as dwarven archers attempt to pepper the Cimmerian. Thanamund pours a dark wheat-like substance from a bag that covers the entire courtyard in smokey darkness.

Conan, once safely across, is lead out of the city by Thanamund. Conan counsels him to send Tossa and Erfu into hiding until he returns in that hour when the Heaven-Bear turns against his dwarven grandsons.

Outside the city, Conan sets out to find the encampment of the men of Aesgaard, intent on raising them to overthrow the dwarves at last.

CAPSULE REVIEW:  Man, that was painful. While my review of issue #109 was kind, I had a much tougher time with this one. It is again, well written and well-drawn, but it is the plot that fails in every possible way.

On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this issue a 5. On eBay, this issue generally is available for less than $7, and as low as $3. Buy it only if you must. And read it only for the pictures.

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