Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 96, Conan the Barbarian 97

Conan 096 coverConan the Barbarian #96 – “The Long Night of Fang and Talon Part 1” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one continues from last issue, with Conan following the lion Sholo, hoping to find a secret way into the ancient city of Abombi where Bêlit is being held by Ajaga, a tribal chief who has learned how to command animals. Conan figures Ajaga’s siren call is bringing Sholo to his city and Conan can follow the lion to find Bêlit, but he’s not sure what’ll happen if Ajaga orders Sholo to attack Conan himself. (Sholo’s loyalty is due to Conan killing his former master, Amra, but it’s a tenuous connection at best.) Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 96, Conan the Barbarian 97”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 91, Conan the Barbarian 93

Conan 091 coverConan the Barbarian #91 – “Savage Doings in Shem” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one starts with Conan, Bêlit, and Zula meeting Bêlit’s ship (the Tigress) on the coast. The crew are happy to have her and Conan back and welcome Zula and his blade. That night, the crew celebrate the return of their captain (who they still think of as part goddess) with a wild celebration. Zula impresses the crew by hypnotizing one of them into thinking he’s a bird, but Zula has to stop him before he tries to “fly” right into the mouth of a hungry crocodile. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 91, Conan the Barbarian 93”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 89, Conan the Barbarian 90

Conan 089 coverConan the Barbarian #89 – “The Sword and the Serpent” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one continues from last issue, with Conan, Bêlit, and Zula fleeing through the passages of the royal palace in Luxur. They find the trap door that leads to the underground tunnels but have to kill some unlucky guards that happen to be patrolling the area. More guards chase them through the tunnels and Bêlit gets confused at a branching of passages, so they pick one at random. It turns out to be the “forbidden passage”, making the guards reluctant to continue their pursuit. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 89, Conan the Barbarian 90”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 86, Conan the Barbarian 88

Conan 086 coverConan the Barbarian #86 – “The Devourer of the Dead” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one starts with Conan and Zula outside the Stygian capital of Luxur, studying the city before they go in to look for Bêlit. Of course, Zula is only there because he promised Conan he’d help rescue Bêlit, hoping that Conan returns the favour and helps him track down his old master in Kheshatta. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 86, Conan the Barbarian 88”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 84, Conan the Barbarian 85

Conan 084 coverConan the Barbarian #84 – “Two Against the Hawk-City” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one starts with Conan returning to the city of Harakht to find Bêlit gone. He interrupts a religious ritual to ask Mer-Ath what’s going on and the Priest-/king tells him how he foresaw the doom of Harakht in a dream. Apparently, he dreamt that Bêlit would topple the king of Stygia, thereby leading to Harakht’s downfall as well. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 84, Conan the Barbarian 85”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 82, Conan the Barbarian 83

Conan 082 coverConan the Barbarian #82 – “The Sorceress of the Swamp” – Roy Thomas/Howard Chaykin/Ernie Chan

This one starts with Conan heading back to Harakht after his adventures in the lost valley. He’s taking a circuitous route through the swamplands in case some of Hun-ya-Di’s men are waiting along the usual trail. He only knows this territory through rumour, but is aware that a small contingent of Stygians live in the vicinity, lording it over some renegade Kushites they encountered there. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 82, Conan the Barbarian 83”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 80, Conan the Barbarian 81

Conan 080 coverConan the Barbarian #80 – “Trial by Combat” – Roy Thomas/Howard Chaykin/Ernie Chan

This one starts where last issue left off, with Conan in the throne room of the hidden city of Attalus. He was sent there from Harakht to bring a jewel called the Eye of Set, one of two that are exchanged any time one of the cities gets a new ruler. But Hun-Ya-Di, the scheming priest in Harakht, wants the Eye for himself to consolidate power, so he ambushed Conan in the wilds. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 80, Conan the Barbarian 81”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 77, Conan the Barbarian 79

Conan 077 coverConan the Barbarian #77 – “When Giants Walk the Earth” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one continues from last issue, with Conan tossed into the pit where he finds a meteorite fragment and its guardian, the giant Gol-Thir. The brute attacks and Conan is hard-pressed to hold him off. The barbarian is knocked down and Gol-Thir raises the meteor to split his skull. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 77, Conan the Barbarian 79”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 75, Conan the Barbarian 76

Conan 075 coverConan the Barbarian #75 – “The Hawk-Riders of Harakht” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one continues from last issue, with Conan, Bêlit, and former slave-girl Neftha admiring their handiwork as they watch the Stygian ships burn in the harbour of Khemi. They make their way through the dark streets to a trader Neftha has heard tell of, forcing their way into his house. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 75, Conan the Barbarian 76”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 73, Conan the Barbarian 74

Conan 073 coverConan the Barbarian #73 – “He Who Waits—in the Well of Skelos” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan

This one continues right from last issue, with Conan and Bêlit returning to the Tigress from Asgalun. Bêlit is still reeling from the knowledge that her father (once King of Asgalun) is still alive and in captivity somewhere in Stygia. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 73, Conan the Barbarian 74”