The team behind the rebirth of Marvel’s Savage Sword of Conan appears to have learned a valuable lesson from the storied past as it rolls out the second issue of the title.
The former SSoC volumes were a varied degree of success on the inner pages, but for the most part each release boasted stellar cover art.
Those covers helped launch the swords and sorcery journey for generations of readers. Much like strong cover art led to purchases of books and vinyl records and movie posters brought seats into theaters and concert halls, the storied cover art of Savage Sword leaped from magazine racks and comic bins into eager hands.
Once these stunningly illustrated covers were opened, the stories contained inside forever inspired dreams of rugged heroes, dark villains, great treasure and foul wizards.
For Marvel’s latest Savage Sword, the cover art follows the tradition. The Alex Ross Conan is a beautiful tribute to the barbarian of our past. The cover features dark, sullen eyes, rippling bronze flesh, a bloodied sword, and the classic panther-in-wait pose – all against a white background that makes every line and color pop. This is what comic art ought to be – a cover that captures the eye and the imagination from across a room, a book that stands apart from the others on the shelf.
Now, if only the inner contents could match that effort.
Savage Sword of Conan #2 continues the story arc that began in the debut issue with Conan traversing Stygia under the watchful eye of the cult of Koga Thun. After escaping a ship of slavers with his new companion, a former slave named Suty, the pair look for answers while following a treasure map that magically implanted itself into the barbarian’s mind.
Synopsis: Savage Sword of Conan (Vol. 2) #2
The cover of SSoC #2 captures the magazine format, which featured dynamic covers.
Conan and Suty survive an early battle to make their way to the city of Khesshatta, where Conan poses as a slave to gain entry and pass the gates. Once inside, we see the Cimmerian’s thieving instincts take over as we have seen so many times – his agility, cunning, unbridled curiosity and complete lack of fear lead him to a library in search of a match to the map in his head.
In the world of Conan, even librarians carry crossbows.
The pair runs across an adept female with a crossbow named Menes, who happens to be the keeper of the library. She hears Conan’s tale, but not without showing her skills as a guardian to Suty. The trio find common ground in seeking the map – Menes knows Koga Thun seeks a similar map to lead him to a powerful treasure. Koga Thun’s search has cost countless lives and devastated the city with deep pits throughout and buildings everywhere torn down.
Before the three can agree to a plan of action, Menes is dragged away by Koga Thun’s emissaries, leaving Conan and Suty without a plan and without an ally.
CAPSULE REVIEW: This second outing improves upon the debut issue. Conan is at his thieving best in a large city and a plot twist adds Menes and her knowledge of the map, the underworld and Koga Thun’s desires.
The artwork is strong, but I can’t help feeling that the cultist of Koga Thun who accosts Conan and Suty at the beginning of the tale bears striking resemblance to Darth Maul (and Menes has a Boba Fett vibe). The writing has a much more fleshed out pace and plot than last issue, but Conan’s dialog is still off – he is both too monosyllabic or wordy at times – a fair balance is needed.
The story line continues moving forward, and both Suty and Menes seem interesting characters and foils for the barbarian. Now if only the big guy from the imagination of the late Robert. E. Howard would walk into the creative team’s workroom and give them a few words of advice.
With the amazing cover (a stunning 10 out of 10) and an improved story, Savage Sword of Conan #2 comes in as a solid 7.5 out of 10. It’s a step in the right direction on the inside, and an issue for every collection on the outside (now, where can I get a poster sized print of that cover, Mr. Ross?)
This issue also continues the second chapter of Scott Oden’s Conan novella “The Shadow of Vengeance,” a tale in 12 parts I will review at its conclusion. Thus far, Oden’s tale is a ripping yarn that bodes well for the new Conan fiction coming from Perilous Worlds.
The Savage Sword of Conan was a revelation to me as a young reader. I had read a few issues of Marvel’s monthly full color Conan the Barbarian and had seen Mego’s version of the Cimmerian at the store in action figure form.
But Savage Sword was a new world. Here we were presented with a more mature, gritty version of the barbarian. This was a black-and-white title that rested in the same magazine rack as Creepy, Eerie and Tomb of Dracula, nestled close to the car magazines and even the adult content!
It was almost a forbidden fruit. The stories within were violent but also highly nuanced, with plot twists and dark dealings. Much more was crammed into those beautiful pages of charcoal-like drawings than what you could find in the monthly color comic.
I picked up as many copies as I could. A subscription was far too ambitious for a young kid those days, but any time I would bike to the local 7-11 or hike to the downtown book store, I would try to scrounge enough change to pick up a copy. I still own quite the collection of those titles.
With Marvel adding Conan once again to its family in 2019, I was excited to hear about a new monthly title, but delighted and intrigued with the resurrection of Savage Sword! I have reviewed classic Savage Sword titles for Paint Monk’s Library, but this is a way for me to hop into this new title and take ownership of not only reviewing the title, but helping in a small way to keep it afloat. I am diving in, for better or worse, and riding the series out as far as it and a certain northern barbarian can take us.
Please note that the last modern comic series I read was Kiss: Psycho Circus from Image. Being a huge fan of the band, I tried the series out and loved the story and artwork. As a reader, be aware that I am no expert on what artists or which writers produce different titles. The creative team of Gerry Duggan, Ron Garney, Richard Isanove nnd Travis Lanham are simply names to me. They’re also names I will likely seek out if Savage Sword lives up to expectations.
A Pirates of the Caribbean comic? Nope, it’s Conan’s fevered hallucination of the pirates in SSOC #1.
Based on the first issue of this title, it needs work.
Conan begins this run aboard a ship of pirates, a familiar setting for fans of any of the barbarian’s former comics and even the original manuscripts of his creator Robert E. Howard. The odds are stacked against him and there is dark sorcery and a plan of escape afoot. The theme works and the violence is thirst quenching, even more so for fans of the barbarian at his most desperate and threatened.
Sadly, though, the plot falls thin. How well does this creative team know Howard’s Conan? A ship captain is portrayed carrying a black powder pistol. At one point, Conan remarks that his “grandmother” is stronger than a fellow captive. This is not the Conan we knew from the 1970s-1990s or from Robert E. Howard’s pen.
In another sequence, we see the Cimmerian embracing a treasure chest, which dumps out a load of sand in exchange for a mind-blast, which presents an illusory map to our Cimmerian. Those who know Conan would expect the chest to be dropped with a shout of “BY CROM! More vile sorcery!” Not here. Conan seems all too eager to embrace this.
Dialogue is not the strong point of Savage Sword of Conan #1.
Robert E. Howard was a brilliant storyteller in that he not only took a subject from point A to point B, but he also deftly wove in characters C and D before throwing them all into a frenzied finish. The original Savage Sword had those subplots, along with the artwork to capture the scene and propel the story forward at breakneck pace.
This new version has the artwork, but the story is flimsy. The plot twist is given away far too early and never fully fleshed out. The dialog is sparse – even juvenile at times. The bottom line is there aren’t enough words to go with the images. The conflict is wrapped up far too tidily, even though the ending sets readers up for a promise of a continuing story thread.
Let’s hope the next chapters include more story. It would be a shame to see this series get sucked into Dark Horse Comics downfall with the Cimmerian – far too much art and not enough words or story.
The issue also includes part one of a Scott Oden 12-part novella from the new Perilous Worlds publishing house. I will review the title in one story, rather than chapter by chapter. Despite the glaring flaws of this first issue, Oden’s novel was a huge highlight. It is worth the price of the issue by itself.
On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this lackluster premiere a 6. Hopefully it gets better as the creative team dives deeper into the characters.
While everyone has been falling all over themselves praising the return of Conan to Marvel in 2019, Dynamite has decided to relaunch Red Sonja this February to coincide with the Cimmerian’s arrival.
Red Sonja Volume 5 will feature the creative talents of writer Mark Russell and artist Mirko Colak, along with colorist Dearbhla Kelly and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
Dynamite lists Robert E. Howard as the creator of Red Sonja, and I find that somewhat disingenuous. Howard created the Hyborian Age in which Sonja swings her sword, but the character herself is more the work of Roy Thomas (and arguable Frank Thorne) than old Two-Gun Bob.
Yes, Red Sonja is inspired by Howard’s Dark Agnes and Red Sonya of Rogatino (with some sprinklings of Valeria), but to call her solely the work of Howard is a stretch.
Dynamite began publishing Red Sonja in 2005, and the character was given a new origin by writer Gail Simone in 2013. While the Dynamite run has been uneven, they have kept the property alive, and that is to be commended.
I was a huge fan of Red Sonja‘s appearances in Conan, and of Frank Thorne’s brilliant run with the character, not to mention the seventies cosplay that forever burned images of Sonja in my mind, particularly when she popped up on the Mike Douglas Show, portrayed by the lovely and talented Wendy Pini (yes, that Wendy Pini), in 1977.
I’m looking forward to reviewing Red Sonja’s latest turn and seeing how it compares with that of Marvel’s relaunch of that other, more famous citizen of Howard’s Hyborian Age.
Review: Red Sonja (Vol. 5) #1
The former King of Stygia is brought before Emperor Dragan of Zamora. Prophecy declared that Dragan would die when his empire stopped expanding and thus he charges any king who does not surrender to him as guilty of treason and attempted regicide. He discusses his next conquest with the former king, the desperate and destitute Hyrkania, and, not liking the Stygian’s answer had him executed.
Meanwhile, Red Sonja returns to her Hyrkanian homeland from Khitai following its defeat. She is on the run from brigands who have pursued her across the desert. She proves more than resourceful as she meticulously eliminates them.
Afterward, she is approached by two riders who lead her back to the Hyrkanian Council of Elders. These Elders heap praise upon her and proclaim her their queen, all part of their plan to avoid the horrors of Dagan’s Imperial edict.
Sonja sends a message back to Dagan: a bleached skull filled with horse dung. Enraged and embarrassed, Dagan promises to raise the largest army the world has ever seen and to lead it himself against this Queen Sonja…
CAPSULE REVIEW: Visually, this book is stunning. Mirko Colak has delivered a kinetically charged and impassioned debut issue. He has a masterful line that emboldens the characters, and his backgrounds are immersive and compelling. He really brings the Hyborian Age to life. Adding to the expressive art is Dearbhla Kelly’s color pallete which is a striking compliment to Colak’s inks, while Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s lettering is nothing short of inspired.
I can’t help but compare Red Sonja #1 to that of Conan’s premiere at Marvel. Artistically, there really is no comparison. While arguably the colors are a push, Colak’s precision far outweighs the oft-times muddy lines of Mahmud Asrar.
But the largest gap comes by way of the lettering. Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s use of typography is a part of the art, not something just pasted atop the finished illustrations. This is how a comic is meant to be lettered.
Now, let’s turn to the writing.
Dan Panosian exclusive variant cover for Red Sonja (Vol. 5) #1.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the scripting fell very flat for me. Mark Russell, best known perhaps for The Flintstones and Snagglepuss for DC, or his religiously charged God Is Disappointed in You and Apocrypha Now (both from Top Shelf), can’t help but fill the pages with puns, gags and out-and-out humor. More’s the pity.
The art deserves better than flippancy. Hopefully Russell will tone down the comedic bent of the dialogue and we can submerge ourselves into a fine sword-and-sorcery epic.
Of course, the title comes with a bevy of alternate covers from the likes of Amanda Conner, Joeseph Michael Linsner, Christian Ward, Frank Cho, and an obligatory Cosplay Variant.
My favorite of the lot is the black & white Dan Panosian exclusive, with Joe Jusko’s is a close second. I’ve been unable to find either of these at a reasonable price, so I’ll settle for my Amanda Conner and be happy for it.
On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this issue an 8. The title sells for $3.99 US.
Alba Gu Brath – Bob Freeman (The Occult Detective)
I count myself a Jason Aaron fan. In particular, I have enjoyed large parts of his more than six years on Thor and the two year stint on Doctor Strange. As such, when I learned Aaron was tapped to lead the relaunch of Conan at Marvel, I was unabashedly thrilled, and proclaimed as such anywhere and everywhere I could be heard.
Jason Aaron was exactly what Marvel’s Conan needed, short of drawing Roy Thomas back into the fold. Or so I thought.
Look, I get it. Robert E. Howard is a tough act to emulate. Other than the aforementioned Roy Thomas, who has successfully navigated the character? Tim Truman comes to mind. His runs, as both an artist and writer at Dark Horse were magnificent. Kurt Busiek did all right, as did Joe Linsdale, but there were a lot of talented writers who mishandled the Cimmerian.
Tim Truman’s “Wolves Beyond the Border” was an example of one of Conan’s finest contemporary tales.
I still think Jason Aaron has the potential to be a great Conan author, but three issues in, I’m just not feeling it. He does a fine job of name-dropping all the right Hyborian landmarks, faiths and cultures, and the plot thus far is serviceable enough, but trying to put my finger on it, ultimately it is the dialogue and prose that is leaving me flat.
It’s too modern. It’s too wink-wink, nudge-nudge.
Reading reviews of the comic, the trend I think is that young people are digging it. They like the art and the writing style. It suits them. A part of me thinks, maybe I’m just getting long-in-the-tooth? Maybe I’ve outgrown comics?
But no, that can’t be it. Truman and Giorello’s “Wolves Beyond the Border” wrapped in March 2016 and I would rate it as one of the finest runs featuring Conan throughout the Cimmerian’s storied history. The trade paperback is available on Amazon for around $30 and well worth the purchase.
I believe there’s a disconnect that can only be rectified by a restructuring of the industry. There is a rot that has set in and it’s well past time that someone cut away the disease so that true healing can begin.
Review : Conan the Barbarian (2019) #3
A seventeen year old Conan finds himself in Red Tree Hill, a small mining community, where the greatest crime a man can commit is to steal gold. Having been captured during an aborted theft, Conan is led to Red Tree to be hung until near death, then fed to hungry dogs.
The Cimmerian’s impressive bulk puts too much strain on the ancient hanging tree and the branch breaks. Conan fends off the city guard and topples the Red Tree before the mob descends on him and he is once more incarcerated.
Conan is being held until the head of the Watch heals so that he can swing the axe, beheading the barbarian for his crimes. Conan requests a priest of Mitra to use as a human shield and escape, but the Watch commander kills the priest and blames Conan for it. One more crime to add to the list.
When the time comes for the Cimmerian’s execution, where is to be quartered with an axe, the watch commander gives him an opportunity to pray to his gods and Conan shouts out, “Crom damn you!” as a bolt of lightning streaks down from the sky, killing the axe-man.
Conan then escapes, the crowd frightened by what they’d witnessed. It is said the miners began worshiping Crom thereafter.
The issue ends as we see King Conan in the back of a wagon filled with the dead, a guttural “Crom” whispered from his lips. He is being taken to the Crimson witch and her two child servants back to their unholy lair where the fallen king will be offered up in sacrifice to the death god Razazel.
We also get a third installment of John Hocking’s Black Starlight. In the previous two entries, Conan and his companions had taken refuge in a deserted town while on their way to Shem, but a mysterious intruder robbed Zelandra’s supply of emerald lotus and the Cimmerian sprang into action.
Chasing the thief across the village and over a rooftop, Conan caught scent of something strangely familiar. Passing a corpse in a ditch, it dawns on him that it was the smell of Stygian herbs used in mummification.
He turned as the undead thing rose up from the ditch. The Cimmerian hacked the thing to bits, recovering his friend’s emerald lotus, and returned to the docks.
CAPSULE REVIEW: Well, it seems wee get more of the same as The Life and Death of Conan continues from Aaron and Asrar. The story itself is entertaining enough, but it suffers from decompression. It does not take much to imagine these three comics having easily been writ as a single issue during the heights of the title in the 1970s.
I am noticing a theme in Aaron’s approach. Last issue, we met a Pict Shaman who waxed elegantly on the philosophy of barbarism vs civilization, while this issue we are introduced to a priest of Mitra who proselytizes on the virtues of faith and the fate of one’s soul.
And I think I’ve hit on the nagging problem I’m having with the title so far, beyond my displeasure with the art and lettering. It’s that Aaron is not writing a Conan story first and foremost. It seems to me that he has a story to tell and is using Conan to do so. That’s a big difference, in my opinion.
One of the things that made Conan sing for me as a young man reading Howard original tales was that they felt real. There wasn’t an agenda. It was just the recounting of an adventure in a man’s life, albeit a larger-than-life man, but still.
Howard said that the Hyborian tales came to him as if they were told to him round a campfire. That’s what’s missing. It’s something that people like Roy Thomas and Tim Truman were able to capture, and something I hope Jason Aaron discovers before the series ends.
On a scale of 1-10 skulls of my enemies, I would rate this issue worthy of a 7.
Alba Gu Brath – Bob Freeman (The Occult Detective)
Growing up in the wilds of Indiana, as a child, comics were my first true love. I can vividly remember hopping on the back of a train and riding it into\ town with two empty bottle cartons in tow. Then, I’d wander those small town streets gathering returnable pop bottles until both cartons were full and I’d deliver them to Mr. Cain at Cain’s Sundries in exchange for $1.60.
That buck sixty would garner five comic boks and a pack of Topps bubble gum cards back then. Some days, I’d be lucky enough to have some extra change and snatch up a Coke with a squirt of cherry phosphate to go along with the four color masterpieces being offered weekly from Marvel, DC, Charlton, Atlas and others. Even luckier days I’d catch Mr. Cain when he was stripping covers and I’d get to go home with a sack full of comics with their mastheads torn off.
My first Conan was issue 36. The Fury of the Stone God, it proclaimed. The year was 1974 so I would have been all of 8 years old. That was a big year for me in many respects, but discovering Conan the Cimmerian has to rank up there with one of the most important red-letter days of my life.
Conan the Barbarian #36 was the aithor’s introduction to Conan in the world of comic books.
I read Conan the Barbarian (and more importantly Savage Sword) religiously thereafter, until Thomas and Buscema had both walked away from the flagship title. Oh, I stuck around for a bit after Buscema, in the late 80s, but the quality was declining quickly and I gave it a rest.
And then Marvel Comics let Conan go and my interest was rekindled when Dark Horse claimed the license. I enjoyed a lot of what Dark Horse accomplished with Howard’s creation. Creators like Tim Truman and Tomas Giorello, in particular, really captured the fiery spirit that Robert E. Howard originally invoked and Roy Thomas, Barry Windsor-Smith, and John Buscema had done so well in translating for Marvel.
But eventually, just as Marvel had in the late 80s, the quality of Dark Horse Conan tales began to decline and I had settled once more into reading back issues of Savage Sword and Conan Saga to get my fix.
Then, rumors began to swirl. Conan was coming back to Marvel. Conan and Howard fandom was abuzz in anticipation. The hype was escalating. The fans were feverish. And then, it was here at last, Conan’s bombastic return to the House of Ideas, with Jason Aaron and Mahmud Asrar bringing the Hyborian Age to life once more.
Could Aaron and Asrar live up to the hype being generated by the marketing machine of Marvel Comics?
So far, for me, sadly the answer has been ‘no’. Let’s take a look.
A Brief Synopsis of Conan (2019) #1 & #2
In the debut issue, we are reintroduced to Conan, recalling his birth on the battlefield in the frozen hills of Cimmeria through his struggles to eventually claim the throne of Aquilonia.
We then find Conan as a brash youth, a pit fighter of immeasurable skill. A beautiful woman catches his eye and he is led to her bed, but then, changing into a hag, he learns he has been marked for death, that his power might fuel her foul sorceries.
Of course, Conan being Conan, he beheads the sorceress, but her dying words promise that he would die that Razazel would rise again.
Years later, King Conan stands victorious on the field of battle, strolling amongst the dead and dying, when he comes upon two odd, orphan children who herald the return of the Crimson Witch that he had slain those many years before. The witch rises up from the earth and Conan is struck down.
This brings us to the second issue, where we find Conan, young and strong, seeking revenge against the Picts along the Black River. As he hunts his savage prey, he comes upon a nest of giant snakes which be becomes locked in mortal combat with, eventually collapsing from the creatures’ deadly venom.
The Cimmerian awakens to find himself in a Pict village, being tended to by a shaman. Eventually, he is healed and tasked with eliminating the kingsnake that is bringing these giant serpents against the people who call the Pictish wilderness their home.
Conan repays his debt to the Picts and slays the beast then returns to civilization, realizing that he is more closely akin to the Picts he despises than the civilized men he interacts with.
We are left with two beggar children, the same two orphans from the end of issue one, who hold back in attempting to kill the Cimmerian, stating he is not yet ripe.
Capsule Review: Conan the Barbarian #1 (2019)
Shall we discuss what I don’t like about the title before delving into what I do?
First of all, its sloppy. The photoshopped montage of past Conan adventures from the House of Ideas was not planned out very well. Old text should have been removed, presenting a cleaner image. Nit-picky? Maybe. But I expect better from a professional comic book entity.
The same could be said of Mahmud Asar’s inks. Not on every panel, but there are instances where the art seems muddy. The same could be said of the underlying framework. 90% of the book is penciled solid enough, but there are panels where I’m left scratching my head, wondering how some of the awkward poses slipped past a critical eye.
The writing is mostly okay. I like Jason Aaron’s work a lot, and the lion’s share of the issue is fine. Not breathtaking, but serviceable.
The worst offender in this issue is Travis Lanham. The lettering is indicative of modern comics and their reliance on computers to do the heavy-lifting. It just does not work on any level for me, totally taking me out of the book. It just doesn’t fit.
Based on the above, you probably think I didn’t care for this comic. Well, the fact of the matter is, I enjoyed it very much. The cover art is cracking good stuff from Esad Ribic and really sets the tone for what is to come after.
The plot is great and faithful to Howard’s vision for the most part. Aaron does a great job of giving us what you would expect from a Conan tale and then delivers a nice twist in the final pages.
The editorial page was concise and a pleasant read. The creators’ enthusiasm for the project is refreshing and encouraging.
The highlight for me, however, was the first installment of John C Hocking’s Black Starlight, a serialized Conan tale which will be a part of the Aaron/Asar 12-issue run.
Hocking paints an interesting picture, with plenty of atmosphere. I have high hopes for where this story may go.
All in all, a solid debut for Conan’s return to Marvel’s fold. While not perfect, we are given an entertaining sword & sorcery yarn and the promise of much more to come.
On a scale of 1-10 skulls of my enemies, I would rate this worthy of 7.
Capsule Review: Conan the Barbarian #2
So close, but oh so far. Two issues into Marvel’s relaunch of Conan the Barbarian and I am deflated. Jason Aaron has proven himself to be a very capable writer, and there are moments in this where he is solid enough, but Conan’s interaction with the Picts rings false with me.
I don’t have issues with the plot, per se, but with one character in particular — the Pict shaman. Story-wise, I like the idea of it. The Picts turn to Conan to save them from the King Snake. Makes sense. The Cimmerian is a formidable foe and has a knack for overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The shaman knows this and him recruiting Conan is a sensible motivation.
But his dialogue is all wrong. He speaks more like a palace vizier than a pictish healer living beyond the reach of civilization. Yes, I get that Howard’s picts were an odd blend of Native American and the actual Picts of historic record, but this shaman hews too close to Kicking Bird for my taste.
Kicking Pict? The author believes the Pict shaman in Conan #2 is over the top.
They might as well have called this Dances with Snakes and been done with it.
I get what Aaron was going for. Howard certainly addressed the themes of civilization vs barbarism in his original tales, but by mishandling the shaman’s dialogue it detracts from what could have been a more powerful message. By making the shaman come across as polished and educated you lose the proper perspective and it becomes preachy instead of enlightening.
The art continues to be disappointing, coming nowhere near the grandeur of any number of luminaries who have been tasked with illustrating the Hyborian Age. Is Asrar the worst that has put pen to paper? Not by a long shot, but if you’re going to embark on such a high-profile relaunch, then why not reel in a heavy hitter, someone more suited for the task.
The colors were adequate, but Lanham’s lettering still leaves a lot to be desired.
I’ll be sticking with the title, because there is enough there to hold my interest, but I expected better from Marvel… Thing is, I’m having a hard time remembering why. Marvel has been a pale shadow of itself for years. Why did I think Conan would be different?
As for Black Starlight, we were treated to a second installment of John Hocking’s serialized novella and, like the first snippet, it’s a solid read. Conan and his companions set up camp in the seemingly abandoned village and a mysterious thief steals Zelandra’s supply of Black Lotus.
Not a lot to chew on, and it’s certainly got none of Howard’s fiery prose, but I’m enjoying it well enough and eager for the next installment.
On a scale of 1-10 skulls of my enemies, I would rate this issue worthy of 6.
Alba Gu Brath – Bob Freeeman (aka The Occult Detective)
November 16th, 2018 Classic Conan Countdown, ReviewsComments Off on REVIEW: An Ominous Dream, Thoth Amon & A Sea Serpent
(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) #74.)
Thoth-Amon, considered to be the Cimmerian’s greatest enemy, visits Conan in his dreams. He warns Conan against rescuing Belit’s father, the true King of Asgalun. The evil sorcerer shows Conan a vision of Belit’s ship, The Tigress, engulfed in flames as a foreshadowing should Conan and Belit go on this quest to rescue her father. Awakening from his dream, or nightmare, Conan goes topside and comforts his brooding lover. Their conversation is cut short when a Stygian ship is spotted. After a short battle, the crew of the Tigress overcomes the crew of the Stygian ship and they burn it.
The Stygian crew is questioned but none of them gives up any information or secrets about the Stygian capital of Luxur. One of the captive Stygians even commits suicide. All is not lost however as a slave girl named Neftha agrees to show the crew of the Tigress how to get into the royal palace in exchange for her freedom. Here is where the bulk of the story takes place, off the coast of Stygia and the port city of Khemi. Most of Belit’s crew get into longboats and row their way into the port city of Khemi. The city is seemingly unguarded because of a festival honoring Set but then a giant serpent attacks! Conan comes to Belit’s rescue, killing the beast on his own with his bare hands and blade, further cementing his reputation as Amra.
Safe from the beast, the pirates of the Tigress burn the Stygians warships but chaos ensues anyway, M’Gora leads most of Belit’s and Conan’s crew back to TheTigress . As forConan and Belit, they stay behind with Neftha in the port city of Khemi and begin to make their way to Luxur.
CAPSULE REVIEW: There’s nothing amazing about the story and the writing but the artwork is outstanding, almost every page is eye candy. There is marked improvement on Ernie Chan’s (a/k/a Ernie Chua) embellishments on John Buscema’s pencils.
It’s probably one of their best collaborations on a single issue ever. Every panel is full of background or foreground work, with rich texture and lush inks, and the issue is lavishly colored by George Roussos. The splash page is beautifully rendered but in turning the page there is a greater treat in a double page masterpiece by the artists. It’s a fine issue with beasts, brains, brawn, and beauties. I give an 8 out of 10.
“And this story shall also be told.” –The Wizard in Conan The Barbarian
– Dean Plakas
November 13th, 2018 Classic Role-Playing, ReviewsComments Off on REVIEW: OAR #1 A Great Book With A Few Minor Letdowns
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to Musings from the Monk, a semi-regular column written by the chief archivist and comic nut who organizes Paint Monk’s Library. Expect bloviations on many topics here, from comic books, pop culture, and current events to reviews, random thoughts, and sometimes, things that are even relevant. This week I discuss vintage role-playing games, specifically, the first volume of Goodman Games Original Adventures Reincarnated.)
By WALLY MONK – Paint Monk’s Library Editor
If you asked me if I played Dungeons and Dragons I would tell you that I used to, but haven’t for many, many years. But somewhere in my small storage attic, I’ve still got my old copies of TSR’s “Queen of the Spiders” and “Desert of Desolation” socked away.
I’ve always been more of a comic book guy, but I did spend the better part of my childhood with a hardcover Player’s Handbook and Monster Manual on my shelf. I collected TSR’s RPG game modules – I never played those, but they gave me many ideas. These stapled booklets were read from cover to cover and I’d steal the ideas for my homemade game sessions.
Imagine my surprise while surfing Facebook Marketplace to come across a re-imagined – and hardcover – version of “The Keep on the Borderlands” and “In Search of the Unknown,” lovingly re-branded in a new book called Into the Borderlands. Apparently this is the first in a series of collections of old D&D modules by Goodman Games.
As I’ve had time, I’ve been perusing the book and have read through some of the creator interviews in the front. The book is not without some glaring flaws, but it’s easily worth the $50 price of admission. If you’ve ever played D&D, this is a book you should have on your shelf.
THE PROS – As you open the book, you’re treated to several interviews with people from the industry. Beginning with Luke Gygax, son of the late Gary Gygax (author of D&D) and including Mike Carr, the original writer of B1 – “In Search of the Unknown”, the interviews are a treat to read.
Goodman Games was very thorough, too, including not only one but two editions of B1 – the original version with the monochrome cover and the reprint with the color cover, as well as samples of the different covers in the back of the book.
For players who are into the current edition of D&D, there are conversions of both B1 and B2 to the new game system. Since I’m not currently a player, I won’t speculate on how well an old fashioned dungeon crawl fits into modern RPG play, but I’d imagine it is pretty old school and would appeal to older players.
There’s a lot of good in this book, and it’s well worth picking up. Sadly, the bad needs to be explained too, although the problems are something Goodman can easily address if they choose to do so in later printings or future installments.
THE CONS: There are some big ones, but this book is still worth it. What I found most troublesome were typesetting issues, which require the reader to really “fold” the book back to read some pages. The margins were typeset far too close to the inner binding and it would have been nice if they were 1/4 of an inch farther away. It would have made for much easier reading. The interviews were especially tough to read because of this.
On some pages, the margins are too close to the binding to read a page without opening the book as wide as possible.
Other reviewers have noted sporadic blurriness in the scans of some module pages. I did not find any pages that were difficult to read – in fact, if I hadn’t read this complaint in other reviews I wouldn’t even have mentioned it. The reproductions of the old material are fine, in my opinion, and unless you’re looking for things to be upset about, I’m pretty confident you won’t have any issues with the scans.
The biggest missed opportunity here is the overall layout of the book and the sparse attention given to the 5E conversion of the original modules. The 5E conversions are very basic, with no fancy layout and inconsistent artwork by multiple artists. I would have loved to see included a “5E” version of each module, complete with new cover and interior art and stat blocks.
While I know this would have increased the production costs exponentially, I would have been happier to pony up $79.95 or $99.95 for something like that. Heck, you would have had a built-in market with new players (which, since this is marketed as “Original Adventures Reincarnated” I believe was the intention!) had more design attention been given to the 5E adaptation inside.
Many of the tables are awkward, taking up full pages instead of using the old-school two-column format. Ah well, I guess you’re not going to get perfection in a 300+ page book for only $50! (Did I say that it’s only $50? I think I have several times.)
Boring “full page” stat blocks could have benefited from TSR’s original two-column format.
CAPSULE REVIEW: Despite some glaring flaws, “Into the Borderlands” is a delightful book for collectors, old-school gamers, and new 5E players alike. It’s a joy to have classic adventure modules from my childhood collected in a hardcover, nicely-bound volume. The production quality, from the paper used to the full-color glossy covers is first-rate.
Some may prefer a magazine-type paper stock, but I find the thick nearly cardstock paper used here is far more durable and less prone to bending and dog-ears when it’s used regularly.
I am already itching to get my hands on “Isle of Dread,” the second volume in Goodman’s Original Adventures Reincarnated series. One of my fears is that Goodman will release a few of these, only to have their license pulled by Wizards of the Coast. Perhaps the line will be successful enough that we’ll see more than one re-release of classic modules per year. I would without a doubt buy each and every one.
On a scale of 1-10, I’d give this book an 8.5. To purchase a copy, visit the Goodman Games website at www.goodmangames.com. They are also accepting pre-orders there for the next volume, “Isle of Dread.
As always, I am – Wally (AKA Paint Monk)
September 19th, 2018 Classic Conan Countdown, ReviewsComments Off on REVIEW: A Ship Sunk, N’Yaga Speaks & The Tale of Belit!
(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, #59.)
By DEAN PLAKAS – Paint Monk’s Library Writer
After a successful raid on a Stygian vessel, a nameless priest curses Belit and Conan. As the Stygian ship sinks to the bottom of the ocean with its dead passengers, Belit kisses the Cimmerian and tells him she will wash up and wait for him in her cabin.
Conan seizes the moment to ask N’Yaga, the shaman, about Belit’s intense hatred of the Stygians. N’Yaga explains her origin to Conan.
The Shemite hellcat is the child of King Atrahasis of Asgalun, a city-state of Shem. Although she was the rightful heir to the throne, her jealous uncle Nim-Karrak coveted the kingship and wanted it by any means necessary. He arranged for his own brother’s assassination and that of his heir.
Being her royal tutor and loyal to the king, N’Yaga smuggled her to safety with some loyal guards when Nim-Karrak overthrew the government. He took Belit to his homeland, where they were immediately attacked by the Bird-Raiders, archers who rode on large, flightless birds.
These bird-raiders killed the royal guardsmen – and N’Yaga, in an effort to save Belit, put on a display of fire with some powder. He convinced the raiders that she was the daughter of Derketa, the goddess of death. The pair was released, and N’Yaga returned to his tribe, continuing to look after the Shemite woman.
Although Belit joined N’Yaga’s tribe, she was never fully accepted. As she grew into maidenhood, her accomplishments caused dissension and jealousy among the tribesmen. She killed a blood-crazed baboon; she killed a man-eating leopard. Despite these feats, the tribe refused to acknowledge her as a warrior.
When she insisted that she be initiated, Chief Uzumi of the Silver Isles plotted her death. The jealous chief sent Belit on a suicide mission to reclaim the Silver Eye of Dagon, a long-missing jewel that was stolen by the frightening Mound-Dwellers.
Instead of being killed in what he thought was an impossible task, Belit was able to steal the gem away from its monstrous keepers, who chased her back to the village. She warned her tribesmen that the Mound Dwellers were following her – and she soon discovered Uzumi’s treachery.
With the help of N’Yaga, Belit force-fed liquid steel to the chieftan! The Mound Dwellers, sensing the silver in Uzumi, took the screaming chief instead of the gem.
With the chief gone and her ferocity witnessed by fellow tribesmen, Belit was now fully accepted as a warrior, tribe member, leader and goddess.
Concluding his story, N’Yaga bids Conan good night. The barbarian approaches Belit’s cabin and sees her store some treasure in a chest.
He spies the great Silver Eye of Dagon from N’Yaga’s tale. Instead of entering the cabin, Conan remains on deck, staring at the full moon and pondering his future with this formidable woman.
CAPSULE REVIEW: The Hyborian Page in this issue gives insight as to how Thomas and Buscema adapted Belit’s origin. Using the little information Robert E. Howard had given about the Shemite hellion in his original tale “Queen of the Black Coast,” Thomas and Buscema built a solid backstory about Conan’s femme fatale mostly in an effort to explain how a white woman ended up leading a crew of dark-skinned warriors.
Although they tried to stick to the original version of Howard’s character, they did alter her look drastically. Where Red Sonja’s look was altered after her original appearance in Conan, the Mistress of the Tigress had her look changed from the beginning.
Belit, as written by Howard, is supposed to be adorned in jewels, wearing only a red silk girdle and sandals – but her wardrobe was changed to match Conan’s look. In the comics, she wears a fur bikini top and loincloth.
Steve Gan does a competent job here inking John Buscema’s pencils, but at times the texture is a bit flat and he keeps shadows to a minimum. It’s easily overlooked, as the pacing of the action-packed story makes up for it.
On a scale of 1-10, I give the “Ballad of Belit” an 8.5. On eBay, copies of this issue averaged around $5 buy-it-now, which is a shame for an issue thatis a very, very good origin story.
– “And this story shall also be told.” – The Wizard in Conan the Barbarian
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to Countdown to Conan, a series ringing in the return of Robert E. Howard’s popular Cimmerian to Marvel Comics. Weekly installments will be published until Marvel releases their first issue of the new Conan series. Today’s installment is written by librarian Dean Plakas. With this post, we’ve hit a fifty issue milestone for our countdown event!)
By DEAN PLAKAS – Paint Monk’s Library Copy Editor
Continuing the story Roy Thomas freely adapted from “Kothar and the Conjuror’s Curse” by Gardner Fox, we find Conan and his female companions in the Border Kingdoms province of Ravengard. Cradling an unconscious Stefanya in his arms, the Cimmerian is caught between man-eating plants and a giant flesh-eating monstrosity called Pthassiass.
The fearsome creature attacks Conan and his companions. The barbarian rests Stefanya on the ground away from the dangerous plants with his sword drawn. He fights the monster, cutting away at it until it has only one prong left on its tongue.
Pthassiass manages to toss Conan into the deadly plants and as the barbarian fights for his life against the vegetation, the hideous creature turns his attention to the serving wench from the castle! As Conan hears her screams, the beast grabs her with the remaining prong on its tongue and devours her. The Cimmerian cuts himself free. Although he is too late to rescue her, he can still save himself and Stefanya.
WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS!
Review: Conan the Barbarian #50
Conan slashes away at the carnivorous monster and its hunger knows no end. As they battle, the Cimmerian notices that Pthassiass is avoiding the plant life. The barbarian decides to lure the beast into the plants, where the vines and tendrils attack and eat the massive beast.
With Stefanya in tow, the Cimmerian leaves the accursed land with the wizard’s amulet in hand. They re-unite with the wolf-woman Lupalina who initially mistakes Stefanya for her mother, whose name was Chrysala. Lupalina confirms that she knows Stefanya all too well. To make sure that she is Chrysala’s daughter, the wolf-woman looks for and finds the star-shaped birthmark on Stefanya’s leg. In flashbacks, she reveals to the pair Stefanya’s history.
Stefanya is the child of Thormond, lord of Phalkar, whose death was plotted by two wizards named Elviriom and Thalkalides. Lupalina also reveals that she was once called Samandra and she was Chrysala’s lady-in-waiting. The wolf-woman admits that she helped the wizards in their plan, but she did not want to kill the baby (Stefanya) so she hid her for a few days until she could be handed over to the wizard Zoqquanor. Lord Thormond and his wife Chrysala were killed in a rockslide made to look like an “accident.”
Now that Stefanya’s parents were dead, Themas Herklar, the wizards’ puppet, was put on the throne and made regent of Phalkar. Lupalina informs them that she repented, and went to live her life in the wilderness with wolves. She further informs the duo that Herklar sent to Merdoramon the Mage the amulet of protection that Conan now happens to hold – it is the amulet Conan needs to deliver to Herklar, without alerting the wizards!
Using her magic, Lupalina spies on the wizards. She witnesses a young man named Unos – she senses great evil in him – sitting on Herklar’s throne. She sees General Jarkan Val being scolded by Elviriom for not attacking Kaddonia as he was ordered. The general advises the wizard that they are at peace with Kaddonia and he only takes orders from Herklar. The general is advised that there has been a recent change in the regime and he needs to respect the new leader. A condemned man who was imprisoned for stealing bread is dragged in shackles into the throne room, and Unos disintegrates him by shooting beams of fire from his eyes as a lesson to General Val.
Lupalina tells Conan that the amulet can teleport him to the castle at Phalkar, where he may find Themas Herklar. The amulet transports him, floating him through the air and allowing him to pass through solid walls until he is near the dungeon holding Herklar captive. After a brief fight with a masked executioner, Conan finds Herklar in a dungeon. Tortured, broken and near death, Herklar tells the barbarian that Unos was created in a vat by the two wizards with the aid of demons.
As Herklar dies, subhuman creatures attack Conan, whose life is spared as he promptly teleports back to Stefanya and Lupalina. The three agree to go to Phalkar and kill Unos and the wizards.
CAPSULE REVIEW: Issue #50 – a milestone for a character Stan Lee thought wouldn’t last long under the Marvel Comics banner. Up until this point, the title did have its share of drama: artwork by both John Buscema and Barry Windsor-Smith getting lost in the mail, Windsor-Smith being woefully underpaid for his work, a lack of existing storylines involving the Cimmerian to sustain a long print run, and the lingering concern of cancellation.
Titles involving barbarians and savage lords of the jungle had been created and published by scores of other publishers before, but with the exception of Tarzan, none had consistent success. Conan is, after all, a savage barbarian from days gone by. Could such a limited character many do not consider “heroic” last? How heroic was he to begin with? A brutal, short-tempered, aggressive, womanizing, lusty, superstitious savage who is quick to kill people, even those who aren’t the villains or always the “bad guys.” Well, the joke was on Marvel. People loved the big lug then as we do now.
So how do we celebrate this 50th issue? With sorcery, beautiful women and some nightmarish creatures, what else? It’s worked every time and gotten us fifty comics.
The artwork in this issue is surprisingly inconsistent. The giant monster Pthassiass, although threatening, looks like a serpent version of Fin Fang Foom as imagined by The Muppets (and it doesn’t matter if it was drawn by cover artists Gil Kane and Klaus Janson or John Buscema!) The first three pages are great. Lots of action, smooth sequential storytelling and well-drawn overall by the parties involved. The comic is beautifully colored by Janice Cohen, but for the exception of a few sporadic panels thereafter, the pencilling and inking didn’t seem to gel.
I’m a fan of both John Buscema and Dick Giordano, but Giordano’s embellishments on Buscema’s work doesn’t seem to bring out the best in either of them after the first few pages. In doing further research, it turns out that Giordano was NOT the only inker for this issue. Terry Austin also inked the comic! Austin’s uncredited contribution here is that Austin inked the backgrounds while Giordano inked the characters. Knowing this now, you can examine their different approaches to the craft – you can see Austin’s more fine line work as opposed to some broad strokes by Giordano. Not their best, but enjoyable anyway.
Conan’s wisecrack response to Stefanya’s comment about being an inexperienced ruler is quite amusing, but Conan floating through the air and walking through walls was too much. It felt like I was watching the Vision in an Avengers comic book more than a Hyborian age barbarian. Sorcery is fine, but this was overdone, especially with Unos pulling a prehistoric Darkseid with some deadly optic beams.
Not the worst, but hardly the best – it’s certainly not anything special for a milestone 50th issue. On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this issue a 5. On eBay, copies were available for less than $6 depending on condition.
“And this story shall also be told!” – The Wizard in Conan the Barbarian
(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, #33.)
By JOESEPH SIMON – Paint Monk’s Library Writer
Norvell Page, under the nom de plume Grant Stockbridge, wrote nearly a hundred tales of The Spider from 1933 to 1943. The Spider was a pulp hero that in many ways was competition for Walter Gibson’s The Shadow. Page also wrote under other names such as N. Wooten Pg, Randolph Craig and others. Under his aliases, Page wrote other pulp titles and tested out other genres.
Under his given name, he wrote sword and sorcery novels. These novels were “Flame Winds” (the very story from whichConan the Barbarian #33 is adapted) and “Songs of the Bear-God”. Both were published in 1939 and each featured a hero based on Prester John. These stories would be among the last that Page penned. As World War II engulfed the globe, he wrote government reports and worked for the Atomic Energy Commission.
Conan the Barbarian #33 is another adaptation placing Conan in non-Conan stories. I would love to know Roy Thomas’ reading list during during the 70’s! These stories obviously influenced him in many ways. Norvell’s “Flame Winds” takes place in a city called Turgohl, which is also the name of a character from “The Blood of Belshazzar” in Conan the Barbarian #27.
Interesting to note – in the 1970 paperback version that Page wrote: “Heroic Fantasy in the great CONAN tradition.” Page’s story though, as the author explains himself, notes that he was particularly impressed with the character of Catholic priest Prester John.
Prester John might ring a bell with some comic fans. A more proper Marvel Universe character with the same name appeared in Fantastic Four and Thor as well as DC Comics’ Arak: Son of Thunder.
Characters taking his name appeared in a wide variety of pulp novels through the century (in addition to Page’s) ranging from books by Umberto Eco (Baudolino), John Buchanan and Charles Williams. Even William Shakespeare’s play “Much Ado About Nothing” references Prester John’s name.
Steeped in history and religion and worthy of independent research and reading, Prester John has been debated for decades as to whether or not he actually existed. Real or fiction, in Conan the Barbarian #33, Prester John does not exist. Conan only follows in his foot steps as written by Page in his “Flame Winds.”
Instead of “Flame Winds,” Conan the Barbarian #33 is titled “Death and the 7 Wizards.” This issue is continued from the previous (where “Flame Winds” is referenced in name only).
This issue begins with Conan, visible “sucker” wounds covering his body from underwater battle, unconscious and viewed by a passerby as dead. The passerby is Bourtai, a beggar, who plans on taking what little Conan has. Conan stirs and attempts to assess his situation. Bourtai becomes submissive, calling Conan his master and being obedient as Conan demands safety after his traumatic underwater conflict with the octopus-woman.
Bourtai takes him to a house that joins to an underground network of caverns where Conan, a thief himself, guess that the Brotherhood of Thieves have their headquarters. Bourtai says “ to this low estate are we fallen, master, since the coming of the Seven. But perhaps our fortunes will change now that you are here.”
Conan, not a stranger to being a hero and savior, says “Perhaps. We’ll talk about it after I’ve eaten.”. While waiting to eat, Bourtai is asked to tell Conan of the wizardsand he complies.
I am somewhat impressed. Bourtai tells how seven wizards came to Wan Tengri and overthrew the previous king and now rule the city with magic and terror. Conan also learns that Kassar, the man who smuggled Conan into the city, has been captured and will be put to death. Feeling responsible, Conan vows to save him, and has Bourtai lead him to the flame tower where the wizards rule. The tower itself is surrounded by the magical red flames that cover the city, and each untrusting wizard’s personal guard lies ready to attack the other for the slightest reason. Bourtai and Conan sneak into the underground passages of the tower, and the two are separated. Conan comes across the already deceased Kassar, and soon finds himself in an arena, a guest of the seven wizards.
“….they merely…appeared one day….on the seventh day…in the seventh month, in robes of seven colors. Their magic turned Won Shi (the then leader of the city)into a pile of scattered ashes. Then they built the flame tower, whose far-darting fires fall with lethal fury on any caught outside the gates after nightfall. One must either accept their yoke…or trust to the desert of Black Sands Beyond. There is no other choice. And, a thief now runs the risk that the man he robs may be one of the seven, who walks among us in many disguises. The Wizard has but to think of a stolen object…and it returns to him. It is most unfair.”
Bourtai then mentions that Won Shi had a beautiful daughter who is imprisoned in the flame tower Conan inquires if perhaps Bourtai is one of the seven in disguise. Bourtai explains he snuck in once. Conan is undecided if he accepts, and quickly distracts himself insulting the food he has eaten and going to sleep.
We should note that while Conan demands answers, none are asked of him and he chooses to not explain why he happens to appear in their lives. We’re reminded of a dream that indicated to Conan he would be crowned a King and wonders “this place has no king right now, only wizards and a princess….” and falls asleep, sword in hand.
When he wakes, his welts are gone from the previous fight and Conan overhears that Kassar was arrested and taken to the flame tower – this is the same Kassar who helped sneak Conan in the city to spy on it. Conan announces that “No man dies in place of Conan of Cimmeria. By Crom I’ll free him–if I have to tear down the Flame Tower itself!“
The thieves are shocked that Conan would risk his life to save a “worthless sheep herd.” Conan demands Bourtai take him to the flame tower Conan, though, has yet to call Bourtai by his name. Instead, he calls him “monkey face.” Bourtai requests that Conan not call him “monkey face” before his fellow thieves. Conan says that Bourtai’s name is “not much of name” but agrees to do as Bourtai asked him.
It is interesting to note that the Cimmerian’s continued belief that he will one day be a king could potentially define how he treats others. On one hand, Conan was said to feel relaxed among the thieves having been one himself. At the same time, he treats them as inferiors, much like various kings have treated him.
The next exchange in the story is my favorite in the entire issue.
Bourtai takes Conan outside the flame tower and Conan reflects…”I was just thinking of how much of my life so far has been bound up with wizards and towers.”
We are then shown a two-page spread of Conan’s sentimental journey of the past 33 issues. We take a tour through time of Conan’s experiences with wizards and towers. While Conan already had a disdain for wizards, its about time he realizes that towers represent danger!
With thoughts of danger, Conan’s mind recalls Jenna and then Red Sonja (with Buscema keeping true to Conan’s memory and the full chainmail top version of Red Sonja that Barry Windsor-Smith created!)
Conan casts these thoughts aside while he and Bourtai sneak into the flame tower. Conan also continues to call his companion “monkey face” (though he did promise to stop doing that in front of the entire thieves’ guild!)
What will happen next? Will Conan keep his word and call Bourtai by his proper name in front of his fellow thieves and stop being a jerk? Can Conan best not one wizard, but the combined might of seven? Will Conan save Kassar? Will he save the princess, become a king, and forget about Jenna or Red Sonja? What sort of spy will the Cimmerian prove to be?
CAPSULE REVIEW: I enjoy the character development of Conan. I think, in reading the series as a whole, that Roy Thomas does a great job building momentum with Conan as a person. I remember reading the first couple dozen Amazing Spider-Man comics. At varying times I would read them with a greater interest in the plot pertaining to Peter Parker and other times, the parts with Parker in costume as Spider Man.
Its not to take away from Conans life and death struggles, given that I really enjoyed Conan’s interactions with Bertai and the Cimmerian reflecting on his life. The pay off is there, as all plots and character development does pay off and lead to greater stories later in the series.
On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this issue a 7.4. On eBay, copies (ungraded) were affordable and available from $5-$15.
Do you enjoy Robert E. Howard's classic Cimmerian in comic book form? Join Paint Monk's Library bloggers, as we review all 275 issues of Marvel's original Conan the Barbarian series. New installments added regularly!
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March 3rd, 2019 
