“Not often are origin issues very exciting. Many times they serve to advance a plot mechanism or provide background. Such is the case in Conan the Barbarian #85, where readers learn the origins of Conan’s Darfarian companion. Created by Roy Thomas, the character has made its way into mainstream Conan movies and animated cartoons.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to Countdown to Conan, a series ringing in the return of Robert E. Howard’s popular Cimmerian to Marvel Comics. We’ll be reviewing issues of Marvel’s original Conan the Barbarian series weekly. This is a review of Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #85.)

By WALLY MONK – Paint Monk’s Library Editor

Often, famed Conan scribe Roy Thomas drew on Robert E. Howard’s source material to create comics involving the beloved Cimmerian. Many of the characters with whom our barbarian interacts were also drawn (sometimes loosely) from the Cross Plains, Texas author’s literary works. The Classic Conan Countdown has already examined one such character, Red Sonja, who was created ultimately by Thomas from the inspiration of somewhat similar Howard characters.

In the case of Zula, the dark-skinned warrior-wizard and last surviving member of the Darkharian tribe, the character is solely the creation of Roy Thomas. He will remain with Conan until his final appearance in Conan the Barbarian #94.

Not limited to merely Roy Thomas’ comics, Zula also appeared as a character in Hollywood’s Conan the Destroyer film in 1984 (as a female version, portrayed by Grace Jones). The Darfarian warrior-mage also appears as a recurring character on the Conan the Adventurer animated series.

Conan the Barbarian #85 is a comic that really goes nowhere story-wise other than to catch readers up on the Harakht storyline (ongoing since Conan the Barbarian #75) and to tell the origin of this new character.

Review: Conan the Barbarian (Vol. 1) #85

In Conan the Barbarian #84, our Cimmerian promised Zula that he would accompany him to Kheshatta in exchange for his freedom. In this issue, the two decide to become more familiar with each other’s roots since they are intended to be traveling companions.

Riding atop two giant hawks, Zula inquires about Conan’s history and current mission. The Cimmerian duly informs the Darfarian of all the events leading up to their current flight, beginning with the stories in Conan the Barbarian #75. This re-cap takes up nearly half of the comic.

Satisfied that he now knows something about Conan, Zula offers his tale. I will only offer a brief, toned down version here since this issue is actually very good and well worth reading.

Born of noble blood to a Darfarian chieftan, Zula is about to undergo a coming of age ritual when his tribesmen are brutally attacked by Kushite warriors.

Hiding in the tent reserved for those coming of age, Zula is enslaved rather than killed and eventually sold to a wizard named Shu-Onoru in Kheshatta, the City of Magicians. As the wizard’s slave, Zula learns some magical skills by observing the sorcerer at work. Shu-Onoru remarks that he does not need to “hide” his ritual rites because Zula is too stupid to know what he is doing. In the words of the wizard, “at least his kind are witless enough I won’t have to guard my spells from him!” Not cool, Shu-Onoru, you should learn to be a little more culturally sensitive and far more PC. But then again, this is the Hyborian Age…

Eventually, Zula is entered into a gladiator battle where he is forced to slay some members of a different tribe in order to stay alive. It’s at this point Shu-Onoru realizes Zula is too dangerous to keep docile and sells him again to a Khemi slave merchant named Sheb-At.

Zula’s plan, now freed, is to wreak vengeance on Shu-Onoru for his captivity, but Conan has a different idea – first, the barbarian says, Belit must be rescued. Incensed that Conan has broken his promise, the pair gets ready to do battle. Zula tells Conan that in order to head to find Belit, it will be over his dead body.

Closely matched in combat, the Darfarian eventually concedes to Conan, agreeing that Belit will be found first, at which time Conan will accompany him to Kheshatta.

CAPSULE REVIEW: This is a really good origin issue, and its well worth the price of admission. John Buscema’s combat illustrations are first rate, and this issue and the battle between Conan and Zula is no exception. While I normally write issues like this off as “one-offs” to advance a story, I would highly recommend adding it to your Conan collection.

At the risk of beating a proverbial dead horse, the whole concept of slavery in the Hyborian world is a difficult one to swallow, especially in today’s sensitive and far more enlightened society. But it’s important to remember that these are tales from another time – a time when different social mores, racism, cultural isolation and supremacy were common place.

Interestingly, this issue also tells the origin of Belit as part of Conan’s narrative, and I’ll take this opportunity to toss another cheap swipe at Marvel’s current Age of Conan: Belit mini series. Belit’s savagery comes from being raised by N’Yaga and growing up among the tribes along the Black Coast – it has nothing to do with any of the gobbledygook currently being spewed forth by Tini Howard and Kate Niemczyk in Marvel’s latest mental flatulence since the New Universe and the Spider-Clone debacle.

On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this issue a 7.5. On eBay, copies were available in large quantities for $10 or less. Both the art and the story are very good and this will make a worthy addition to any Conan comic collection.

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