“As Conan pines for his lost love Belit, two old adversaries are preparing for a showdown. The wizard Zukala wishes to enlist the Cimmerian’s aid to defeat his long-time foe Karanthes … and as part of the bargain, the conjurer claims that Belit will come to life once more. Will the She-Pirate live again, to one day sit next to Conan on his jeweled throne?”

(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) #115.)

By WALLY MONK – Paint Monk’s Library Editor

How I missed reading Conan the Barbarian #115 when it was on the newsstand is beyond me. It is a fantastic issue, full of references to the last 114 issues, and a fitting swan song for Roy Thomas’ departure from the title for the next 125 monthly installments.

It’s also interesting to note that Conan the Barbarian #115 marks Conan’s 10th Anniversary as a Marvel Comics licensed property. To a lesser but by no means insignificant extent, this means the scribes here at Paint Monk’s Library have reviewed a decade worth of Conan comics in less than a year and a half.

A huge shout out to librarians past and present, especially Bob Freeman and Andy Maglothin, who have stayed along for the ride and continue to make this Classic Conan Countdown event possible.

This issue is chock full of references to Thomas’ earlier stories and includes Red Sonja as a major character. The interactions between Conan and Sonja are almost as important to the development of each character as the main story itself.

In honor of Conan the Barbarian’s 10th Anniversary at Marvel – and this hallmark issue – today’s review will be longer and double-sized, just like the actual comic. It’s a bittersweet tale, and made more so by the knowledge that Thomas’ successors will struggle often trying to keep the magic of Howard’s Hyborian Age alive.

Review: Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #115

Conan is en route to Akkharia, where he hopes to enlist as a soldier in the army of the king. It has been a long time since his last “paid” adventure, and the barbarian’s purse is empty. On the road, Conan is interrupted by a ghostly vision and an adversary from his past.

Zukala, the wizard last seen in Conan the Barbarian #14-15, wants Conan to abandon his journey to Akkharia and take on a mission for him. He assures the barbarian that he will have more than he could ever dream of in reward for his assistance. Angry, and determined to never serve a wizard, Conan throws his blade at the spectre of Zukala and rides on his way, grabbing his sword from the tree in which it lodged after passing through the ghostly visage.

Approaching the walled city, Conan muses on how it reminds him of Asgalun, the home to his lost love Belit. He pines for a moment, and then enters Akkharia.

It’s late at night, and there’s no room at the inn for our barbarian. The innkeeper, awakened from his slumber, tells Conan that for a silver piece he can sleep in the stable.

Tired and in desperate need of rest, Conan accepts the humble lodgings, only to find there’s another warrior sound asleep – and snoring – when he arrives. It’s no deterrent, and soon Conan the Cimmerian is asleep himself.

Conan awakens in the morning to a familiar voice – it seems the fiery Red Sonja also plans to work for the king, and she was his snoring bunk-mate. She tells the barbarian all she’s had is “an empty purse and saddle-sores” since they last met. The Hyrkanian offers Conan one final breakfast before the duo sign their services over to the king.

The visit to the inn is where things get interesting. Red Sonja begins to prod Conan about Belit and her absence. When Conan decides not to engage Sonja in this particular conversation, the redheaded warrior pushes on, going as far as telling Conan that Belit probably left him for “a tree-ape with bigger muscles and a smaller brain” and that he’s “better off without her.”

Conan’s response is brutal.

A sword fight ensues, as Sonja continues to taunt Conan and he spars back, both verbally and with his blade. Sonja tells him to hold still, and that any other man would be dead by now – Conan responds by telling her that perhaps she would be better off putting down the sword and having children.

As Sonja seemingly loses the combat, her sword falling down to the floor, she pulls a dagger with which she plans to continue the battle. Conan turns away, saying that he won, and that she can stab him in the back if she wishes. Author Thomas notes that of this fight, “some people will say there was wine spilled on the floor where Sonja stood” and that was the reason she lost the confrontation.

Conan reminds Sonja of her vow – and soon the Cimmerian is taking her to his room. Dejected, yet honoring her promise not to love a man until he has bested her in combat, Sonja allows Conan to carry her upstairs.

As Conan gently prepares for some personal time with the fiery redhead, Sonja appears dejected. She acknowledges her vow, but also tells Conan that she’s “not required to enjoy it.” Conan rebukes Sonja, who once again brings up Belit. The barbarian then tells her he thought she was smart enough to figure out that Belit was dead.

An angry Cimmerian stalks out of the room, telling a shocked Red Sonja that he still cares about Belit and her coldness has reminded him that he’s not ready for another romantic encounter at the moment.

Conan leaves Akkharia – and Red Sonja – behind, abruptly mounting his horse and galloping away. He finds another city, another tavern and more wenches. But it’s not what he wants at the moment. Frustrated, the barbarian steps out into the rain – only to encounter the spectre of Zukala again.

Now, Zukala makes Conan an offer he cannot refuse – if the Cimmerian brings him the Stygian wizard-priest of Ibis, Karanthes (first seen in Conan the Barbarian #7), Zukala will restore Belit to life.

Conan accepts Zukala’s offer. But he will soon discover that Red Sonja is now in the employ of Karanthes – and they will meet again soon.

Will Belit walk beside Conan once more? Will Red Sonja win the next sword-duel with Conan, if one occurs? And what will happen when Karanthes meets his nemesis Zukala face to face?

CAPSULE REVIEW: There’s so much to enjoy in this issue that it’s hard to put a finger on what is best and what needs work. We see flashbacks to many aspects of Conan’s adventuring career thus far – we hear of the Living Tarim, Belit, Karanthes, and even Melnibone and Conan’s adventures with Elric. It’s almost as if Roy Thomas wants to imagine all that has been and all he’s leaving behind as he walks away from Conan the Barbarian after this issue.

This comic book is a prime example of John Buscema’s supremacy as a Conan illustrator. The facial expressions on Conan and Red Sonja’s face tell as much of a story as Thomas’ words. Sonja’s downtrodden face upon learning she will need to surrender her body to Conan is eerie – you genuinely feel for her and the mental dilemma in which she’s been placed.

Typically, I provide a complete synopsis in most of my Classic Conan Countdown reviews, but you need to read this issue yourself. I will leave you with the final image of Red Sonja from the comic, who rejects Conan’s offer to be his new adventuring companion. It appears that she does and may perhaps harbor some genuine feelings for the Cimmerian after all.

On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this issue a 9.0. It’s all down hill from here, sadly, as Conan the Barbarian #116 introduces us to the writing of J.M. DeMatteis, a talented scribe in his own right, but one who never seems to grasp the nuances of our Cimmerian hero.

As always, I am – Wally (AKA Paint Monk)