By TROY CHRISMAN – Paint Monk’s Library Writer

Marvel’s Savage Sword of Conan hits its third issue and readers are thrust knee-deep into the meat of the five-part story arc “The Cult of Koga Thun.”

This issue, “The Siege of Kheshatta”, is the continuation of Conan’s adventure in Stygia after escaping a cursed slaver ship with the help of his new companion, Suty. After uncovering an ornate box – which, once opened, imprinted an ancient map in the Cimmerian’s mind. Suty and Conan seek out the city of Kheshatta and an answer to the riddle of the map.

Exploring the city uncovers a library and a guardian within, a female warrior named Menes. While the trio discuss a plan to follow the map, Menes is whisked away by followers of Koga Thun, an evil sorcerer she believes is not only in search of the map, but also an ancient secret buried underneath the city.

*** Spoiler Alert ***

Synopsis: Savage Sword of Conan (2019) #3

“The Siege of Khesatta” begins as Menes confronts her assailants, peeling away any visage of them being anything but evil agents of the foul sorcerer and his cult. While she struggles to escape, Conan joins the fray, unarmed save for his environment. A well-launched pillar ruin halts the attack while well-aimed fists fell another cultist, finally surrendering a blade to the raging barbarian’s grip. When the odds and number of cultists against Conan grow, he turns to cunning and a natural lever to turn the tables and squash the opposition – literally.

The trio again gather to plot the battle against Koga Thun and his plan to find the map and ancient weapons buried under the city which have evaded his grasp (despite decimating the town through magic and sheer force). But as the three talk, a thick storm descends on the city in the form of fog, sand, wind, and blazing magenta eyes.

While the barbarian grips steel, ready to split the giant reptilian face in two, his senses clear and standing before him is Koga Thun, flanked by two female acolytes each with flames emanating from one of their hands. Koga Thun demands the map, as sinewy, dead hands reach from all angles to secure the barbarian. Conan promptly chews off a hand that wanders too close to his face and spits it back in the sorcerer’s face – a fitting response to his foul magic.

Koga Thun then lays his twisted hands on Conan and peels back the layers in his brain, searching deeper and deeper for the map. Menes breaks the evil one’s concentration by sheer force, knocking the two female acolytes together with a push and in turn knocking into Koga Thun, freeing the Cimmerian to strike out and cut his way free. 

As the three race for a break in Koga Thun’s dark barrier, Suty is wounded, but the the trio breaks through, regrouping and plotting yet another strategy. Menes believes Koga Thun has been searching the wrong location for the ancient weapons and the real mystery will be revealed underneath the city. Despite ancient tales of cursed warriors who failed while seeking the weapons, the three descend further under Khesatta. As Conan leads the way, seeing visions shared to only him by the map in his head, they plunge forth – and straight into a waiting crowd of undead.

CAPSULE REVIEW: The third issue of Savage Sword of Conan is simply the best yet in Marvel’s revival of this character. It is the most complete from cover to back. The story within includes a delicious taste of the villainy of Koga Thun and even while they escape, Conan and his new allies feel his presence pounding in their souls (and Suty pounding in his veins). 

The artwork has grown leaps and bounds from the first issue, simply due to what is going on behind the scenes. Background art is much more fleshed out and the world of Hyboria feels full and robust. The city is ruined, but daunting and the catacombs underneath are dank and brooding.

The only dent I can find in the latest issue is one that may be the niggling of a longtime comic reader. The combat sequence between Koga Thun and Conan was confusing. I feel the writers captured the surreal quality of the foul magic that had helped capture Conan and transported he and his allies into a different reality of sorts. But the actions of Menes to help free the barbarian required several views to capture what actually happened. A bit of narration here would have explained the actions and better served the story. It may be a small quibble and maybe narration is a lost art, but in this case it could have served as a great help.

Another issue is this new Conan still hasn’t shown the mind-numbing avoidance to magic Robert E. Howard’s barbarian showed this Howard canon. Here, the barbarian treats Koga Thun as just another foe, not one that makes the hairs on his neck bristle and his inner fire burn.

But those are minor issues with a comic that steers us Conan enthusiasts in no direction but full steam ahead for the conclusion of this story arc and the ones that follow. TheSavage Sword is in good hands and appears to be thriving, Koga Thun be damned.

Once again, an Alex Ross cover hits all the right marks and even includes an “after Buscema and Chan” signature line in tribute to legends John and Ernie.

My little nitpicks aside, this issue ranks a solid 8 of 10 and propels us in anxious anticipation to the next part of the tale. This feels like the Savage Sword of old while boding well for the future of the series.

The book also includes part three of Scott Oden’s 12-part novella “The Shadow of Vengeance.” I will be reviewing this tale at its conclusion and am very happy to announce I have reached out to Scott and Perilous Worlds’ Editor Howard Andrew Jones and will have an upcoming Q&A with Scott.

Feel free to submit any questions you may have for Scott through the Paint Monk or to me at troychrisman@gmail.com.