Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Conan the Barbarian #145 – “Son of Cimmeria” – Alan Zelenetz/Richard Howell/Bob Camp
This one starts with a group of older Cimmerians reminiscing about the Battle of Venarium, where Conan first tasted battle. These memories have been prompted by the fact that Conan has returned to Cimmeria for a visit and is now leading a war band into the mountains to eliminate a troublesome Pict raiding party. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 145, Conan the Barbarian 146”
Conan the Barbarian #143 – “Life Among the Dead” – Bruce Jones/John Buscema/Ricardo Villamonte
This one starts in a small Cimmerian village called Solvanthia, where the ground begins to tremble violently. The villagers have a pretty good idea what’s causing it and rush up the mountain to a gold statue of their hero, Graven. But there’s something missing from the statue … Graven’s sword, which is some kind of talisman that keeps a dragon asleep under the village. Now that the sword has been stolen, the dragon is waking up, so the villagers figure they’d better get the sword back quickly. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 143, Conan the Barbarian 144”
Conan the Barbarian #141 – “The Web Tightens” – Bruce Jones/John Buscema/Brett Breeding
Last issue, Conan was shanghaied aboard a pirate vessel by Lupos Davalte, a man he’d pissed off in a tavern brawl. Conan was forced to help row the ship until they stopped for provisions and ended up being attacked by giant spiders in the forest. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 141, Conan the Barbarian 142”
Conan the Barbarian #139 – “In the Lair of the Damned” – Bruce Jones/Val Mayerik
Last issue, Conan and Pelija Lon were sent to a demi-plane to recover an amulet for the wizard Revelle. The amulet is around the neck of Pelija’s father (Eshe Lon) and Revelle claimed that removing it would turn him back to his old (non-evil) self, but when they found Eshe and Conan took the amulet from him, he turned into some kind of serpent demon. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 139, Conan the Barbarian 140”
Conan the Barbarian #137 – “Titan’s Gambit” – Bruce Jones/Alfredo Alcala
This one starts at the court of King Arvenger of Voldhom, where a dwarf (Twillo) and a dim-witted behemoth (Bolo) are in attendance. Some peasants have brought in a “champion” (a huge bear)to fight Bolo, who seems too gentle for such sport … until Twillo plays a certain song on his flute. That song brings back memories of how Bolo’s parents were butchered, which makes him go crazy with rage and kill the bear with his bare hands. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 137, Conan the Barbarian 138”
Conan the Barbarian #135 – “The Forest of the Night” – Steven Grant/Marc Silvestri/Joe Rubinstein, Danny Bulanadi
This one starts with Conan in the Border Kingdoms, where he’s been hired as a scout and mercenary for an outpost. Having been ambushed by Picts and lost his horse and supplies, Conan makes his way through a strange forest, killing a deer for sustenance. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 135, Conan the Barbarian 136”
Conan the Barbarian #133 – “The Witch of Widnsor” – Bruce Jones/Gil Kane/Danny Bulanadi
This one starts with Conan making his way through some mountains bordering Cimmeria. He sees a strange-looking mountain peak that shimmers in the sunlight, but his attention is soon drawn to a line of dead men tied to crosspieces of wood. They all died of deep puncture wounds and have signed waivers tacked to the crosses, attesting that they sought to free Princess Seraina of their own free will. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 133, Conan the Barbarian 134”
Conan the Barbarian #131 – “The Ring of Rhax” – Bruce Jones/Gil Kane/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan lurking in the wilds, looking for someone to rob. He sees a prosperous-looking Brythunian merchant riding alone and accosts the man, asking for a few coins to protect him from brigands. The merchant knows Conan is a brigand himself and refuses, so Conan demands all his money and possessions. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 131, Conan the Barbarian 132”
Conan the Barbarian #129 – “The Creation Quest” – J.M. DeMatteis/Gil Kane
This one continues from last issue, with Conan and Noyo confronting the Warriors of Eternity who guard the Sword of Strength. The Sword is one of four elemental artifacts that Noyo (a sorceress from Khitai) has to retrieve for the evil wizard Pau-Styss so he’ll release her husband from captivity. Since Noyo’s husband (Laynnen) is an old friend of Conan’s, the barbarian is helping her complete the quest. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 129, Conan the Barbarian 130”
Conan the Barbarian #127 – “The Snow-Haired Woman of the Wastes” – J.M. DeMatteis/Gil Kane
This one starts with Conan back in Cimmeria, wandering through the snowy hills. He sees a beautiful white-haired Vanir woman (rather scantily-dressed for the climate) being menaced by a bear, so he attacks the beast. After a long struggle, Conan manages to kill the bear, but he passes out from his wounds. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 127, Conan the Barbarian 128”