Reviews, ruminations, and (occasional) ramblings.
Conan the Barbarian #35 – “The Hellspawn of Kara-Shehr” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan and his new companion Bourtai (who he met last issue) travelling across the desert on their way back to Aghrapur. They come upon some desert warriors harrying a lone man and Conan rides in to help. The raiders try to kill the loner, who apparently holds some kind of valuable secret. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 35, Conan the Barbarian 36”
Conan the Barbarian #33 – “Death and 7 Wizards” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
Last issue, Conan was sent to the city of Wan Tengri in Khitai by a Turanian commander who wanted him to gather information for a possible invasion. The city is ruled by seven mysterious wizards who fill the skies with flames from a high tower. Conan ran afoul of one of the wizards and ended up fleeing the city guard, swimming through a watery tunnel where he fought an octopus-woman (which may or may not have been an illusion) before crawling out of a pool in the garden and collapsing. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 33, Conan the Barbarian 34”
Conan the Barbarian #31 – “The Shadow in the Tomb” – Roy Thomas/John Buscema/Ernie Chan
This one starts with Conan serving as a mercenary with a cohort of Turanian soldiers. They’re looking for rebel hill tribes and find them soon enough, when the hill-men ambush them near some rocky cliffs. Conan is in the middle of the fight (naturally), but the Turanians are badly outnumbered so their captain (Malthuz) orders a retreat into the rocky hills. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 31, Conan the Barbarian 32”
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”