Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Conan the Barbarian #29 – “Two Against Turan” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan arriving in Aghrapur, capital of the Kingdom of Turan, where he turns a few heads even among the jaded city dwellers. As he walks the streets, a statue of the “living god Tarim” is paraded past and the people go into a frenzy of worship. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 29, Conan the Barbarian 30”
Conan the Barbarian #27 – “The Blood of Bel-Hissar” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
After last week’s digression into Savage Tales territory with “Red Nails”, we’re back to Conan’s regular storyline. This story begins with him riding through some desert land south of the Zaporoska River when he hears a woman scream. He comes upon a huge brute (Turgohl) menacing a Khitan woman (Suwaan) and quickly jumps in to help her. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 27, Conan the Barbarian 28”
“Red Nails” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor-Smith
This story originally appeared in Savage Tales issues 2 and 3 (which were published a few months apart), but I’m including it here because it’s part of the Chronicles of Conan reprints that I’ve been using … plus, it’s a really good story, based on one of Robert E. Howard’s best (and last) Conan tales. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Red Nails”
Conan the Barbarian #25 – “The Mirrors of Kharam-Akkad” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Sal Buscema, John Severin
This one starts in the besieged city of Makkalet, with the wizard Kharam-Akkad looking into his magic mirror again and freaking out over what he sees. We don’t get to share his vision but it must involve Conan, since Kharam-Akkad sends the guard captain (Chumballa Bey) to find the Cimmerian, knowing through his magical art that Conan is close by. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 25, Conan the Barbarian 26”
Conan the Barbarian #23 – “The Shadow of the Vulture” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Sal Buscema, Dan Adkins, Chic Stone
This one starts in Pah-Dishah, a city three weeks’ ride from Makkalet, where Conan has come to deliver a plea for help to the king (Ghannif), whose daughter Melissandra is Queen of Makkalet, currently under siege by the armies of Prince Yezdigerd. Conan has a little trouble getting in to see the king, who doesn’t seem too worried to hear his daughter is in trouble. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 23, Conan the Barbarian 24”
Conan the Barbarian #21 – “The Monster of the Monoliths” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Dan Adkins, Craig Russell, Val Mayerik, Sal Buscema
Last issue, Conan was part of the Turanian force that attacked Makkalet, a Hyrkanian city who had kidnapped the living god Tarim, resident for many years in the Turanian capital of Agrhrapur. The Turanian prince Yezdigerd led the attacking fleet, but his motives seem to be less about religion and more about eliminating a strong trade rival on the Vilayet Sea. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 21, Conan the Barbarian 22”
Conan the Barbarian #19 – “Hawks From the Sea” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Dan Adkins
Last issue, Conan and Fafnir were picked up by a Turanian war galley commanded by Prince Yezdigerd. He’s leading a force against a city across the Vilayet Sea and allowed (or forced) Conan and Fafnir to join his army. As the ship makes its way across the Sea, Conan sees a soldier (Balthaz) lashing a broken wooden statue to the mast. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 19, Conan the Barbarian 20”
Conan the Barbarian #17 – “The Gods of Bal-Sagoth” – Roy Thomas/Gil Kane/Ralph Reese
This one starts with Conan as a captive aboard a Turanian galley sailing the Vilayet Sea. The ship is attacked by pirates, led by Fafnir, the redheaded rogue Conan tangled with in Shadizar (in issue 6). The galley is taken and Conan wakes up tied to the mast of the pirate ship. Fafnir spared him because he needs a strong arm to help steer his ship through a storm, but when Conan realizes Fafnir is from Vanaheim, he refuses to help. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 17, Conan the Barbarian 18”
Conan the Barbarian #14 – “A Sword Called Stormbringer” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Sal Buscema
This story guest stars Elric of Melniboné, hero (or anti-hero maybe) of a series of books by Michael Moorcock. (Moorcock plotted this tale, along with James Cawthorn.) It starts in Koth, with Conan rescuing a maiden from some hooded and cloaked abductors. Conan soon realizes his foes aren’t quite human and is felled by the merest scratch of their blades. But some white eagles descend and chase off the weird attackers, leaving Conan to marvel as the bodies of those he killed turn to dust. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 14, Conan the Barbarian 15”
Conan the Barbarian #13 – “Web of the Spider God” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Sal Buscema
This one starts with Conan getting jumped by some raiders in a desert oasis. For once they’re not after him, they just want his horse. After a short fight, Conan is outnumbered and left for dead. When he awakens, he swears vengeance on the raiders, especially their leader, Sarkon. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 13, Conan the Barbarian 16”