Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Conan the Barbarian #115 – “A War of Wizards” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan still making his way towards Akkharia, when he’s startled by the appearance of a green light with a face inside it … a familiar face. It’s the wizard Zukala (who we last saw in issue 15) using magic to speak to Conan even though body is far away in Ghaza. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 115, Conan the Barbarian 116”
Conan the Barbarian #113 – “A Devil in the Family” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan and Erfu still on their way to Akkharia, making their way through a vast forest. They’re ambushed by some Shemites and Erfu takes an arrow in the shoulder before Conan’s berserker fighting frenzy drives their attackers off. Erfu figures he needs some kind of medical attention, but since they’re still a long way from Akkharia he suggests a wood-witch. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 113, Conan the Barbarian 114”
Conan the Barbarian #111 – “Cimmerian Against a City” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one continues from last issue, with Conan waking up with his new “wife” Tossa, who he won by killing her former master last issue. Of course, Conan doesn’t want a wife, but that didn’t stop him from banging her. Conan gets a visit from the family of the man he killed and he quickly frees them from his servitude, while Tossa fills him in on the way the dwarf king Aoska keeps people in line. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 111, Conan the Barbarian 112”
Conan the Barbarian #109 – “Sons of the Bear God” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan and Erfu making their way through the Sea of Buryat, a vast grassland that Erfu thinks is haunted. They run into some Shemites who attack immediately, forcing Conan to kill a bunch of them before he and Erfu can flee into the supposedly haunted grass. Erfu uses a strange whistle to scare the Shemites off, making it sound like a disembodied voice from the tall grass. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 109, Conan the Barbarian 110”
Conan the Barbarian #107 – “Demon of the Night” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts where last issue left off, with Queen Tananda of Meroe about to whip the slave-girl Diana because she believes Diana is a spy sent by her rival, Tuthmes. Tananda is right, but before she can beat the truth out of Diana, Conan stops her and looses the unfortunate girl. Conan also warns Tananda that allowing a bunch of tribesmen into the city to witness the execution of the supposed traitor Aahmes might cause them to revolt instead of cowing them as Tananda intends. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 107, Conan the Barbarian 108”
Conan the Barbarian #105 – “Whispering Shadows” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan being denounced by a Bamula witch doctor, blaming him for a plague that’s recently struck the tribe, as well as some recent setbacks against their enemies. The Bamulas aren’t eager to move against their war-chief … until Conan tires of the witch doctor’s imprecations and kills him. That rouses the tribe and he topples the totem of Ajujo onto them before taking off. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 105, Conan the Barbarian 106”
Conan the Barbarian #103 – “Bride of the Vampire” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one continues from last issue, with the unconscious Conan being taken by the Drellik king and his Bamula tribesmen thrown into a dungeon by the other Drelliks. A Drellik is a native word for vampire, but only the king is a true vampire; his followers have adopted his blood-drinking ways, but they die as easily as any other person. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 103, Conan the Barbarian 104”
Conan the Barbarian #101 – “The Devil Has Many Legs” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan camping in the jungle, having given up the sea after the death of his lover Bêlit last issue. As he’s brooding by his fire, he’s attacked by some Bamula tribesmen, who quickly surround him. Conan kills their war-chief but is overcome by superior numbers. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 101, Conan the Barbarian 102”
Conan the Barbarian #100 – “Death on the Black Coast” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with the Tigress sailing the Black Coast as usual, but Bêlit’s destination is well outside their normal haunts. She takes the ship to the mouth of the Zarkheba River, which they passed once before and reminds Conan that its waters are said to be poisonous, inhabited only by venomous reptiles. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 100, Conan the Barbarian 92”
Conan the Barbarian #98 – “Sea-Woman” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with a lookout on Bêlit’s ship spotting something amazing in the sea … a beautiful blue-skinned woman standing on a lily pad. Naturally, all the men (including Conan) want to bring her on board, but Bêlit is suspicious of her (either from legitimate caution or jealousy). Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 98, Conan the Barbarian 99”