With the new CONAN movie out I thought I'd showcase some of the grittier, more adult oriented covers from a handful of my surviving SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN THE BARBARIAN comic magazines as well as some from CONAN SAGA, a magazine that reprinted tales from both SAVAGE SWORD as well as the color comic CONAN THE BARBARIAN. This B/W comic mag was an amazing fantasy read for those who loved barbarians and artwork from the likes of Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta.
These publications also had wonderfully designed portraits book-ending the mag featuring everybody's favorite Cimmerian battling various enemies and beasts with a scantily clad, impossibly well built lovely just waiting to be rescued. Each magazine generally contained two tales of savagery with the co-feature not always about Conan. The cover at the top of the page is from issue #81 with the story 'The Palace of Pleasure' being one of the more misogynistic I've seen. It also features inks by the artist that got me into these books, Ernie Chan. Joe Chiodo did this surreal cover artwork.
Here is the very first SAVAGE SWORD I ever received. CONAN THE DESTROYER had just come out, and having been collecting the more kid friendly CONAN comic books, my attention turned to these far more gritty adaptations. Finally seeing the Cimmerian on the big screen got me hooked and after showing a curiosity for these mags upon seeing my first one in a barber shop, I had to have some of them. My mom would never buy them for me, though, till this issue from September, 1984. It's easily one of the goriest and sexiest issues I've ever come across. The issue also came under fire from some readers and non readers alike for the level of violence and bare flesh contained therein. 'Treachery of the Gray Wolf' is the lead story and again features the inks of Ernie Chan! Joe Jusko did this amazing cover.
SAVAGE SWORD #175 contains 'Blade of the Demon Slayer'. Conan finds the most mesmerizing blade he's ever seen and sets out to get it only the arcane blade is after him, too. Dorian designed this unusual cover. This issue also features a pin up gallery of Conan by Dave Simons.
Issue #176 contains a rousingly interesting tale entitled 'The Three Deaths of Conan' wherein our hero is captured by a wizard who delights in revealing to Conan various nasty ways in which to bring about the barbarians demise. Another pin up gallery is here, this time from James Fletcher. The striking cover is the work of Earl Norem.
'Fury of the Iron Damsels' headlines SAVAGE SWORD #179 and is of great interest in that it features Valeria stealing a coveted idol. Conan and Red Sonja set out after her to retrieve it. Along the way, Conan and co. run into the Iron Damsels, a gang of lady killers who swore vengeance on him as well as a gang of thieves who are also after the idol. Another Conan tale, 'What Dwells Below' closes out this issue. Earl Norem drew the cover.
Issue #192 features my all time favorite team of artists of this title--Roy Thomas, John Buscema and Ernie Chan! 'The Cape of Dark Dreams' is part three of 'The Skull on the Seas' story. Conan and the Khitai pirates are trapped on a dangerous island inhabited by reptilian men. Two other stories close out this issue--one of a young Kull and another of Red Sonja. The amazing cover was the work of Bob Larkin.
This 200th issue spectacular is jam packed with savage goodness and features that titanic trio of Thomas, Buscema and Chan! This bizarre tale is titled 'Barbarians of the Border' wherein the past mixes with the present as Conan shares pages with his creator, Robert E. Howard! A Short History of Conan and The Father of Conan are two features that close out this spectacular issue. Joe Jusko drew the kinetic cover.
This was my first issue of CONAN SAGA and sports a grand cover by Earl Norem taken from SAVAGE SWORD #24. The covers were chosen at random and seldom, if ever reflected the story within. Giant spiders and barbarians go hand in hand and this cover exemplifies that. 'The Haunters of Castle Crimson' is the lead story and is more horror oriented than most other Conan tales. It's adapted from Howard's 'The Slave Princess' story. A Solomon Kane story closes out the mag as well as the very first letter column for this reprint magazine.
For a time, Conan was known as 'Amra' after defeating another Amra, the Lord of the Lions, who had captured Conan's lover, the lovely pirate leader, Belit. In so doing, Conan also earned the respect of the faithful black lion, Sholo. Issue #38 covers Conan's days when he was possessing the 'Lion Spirit' and was referred to as Amra by everyone but Belit. This is the first of the four part Jhebbal Sag legacy. 'The Beast King of Abombi' is the title of the head tale. A lengthy and insightful Roy Thomas article is featured as well as a Conan/Red Sonja team up and a pin up gallery. Bob Larkin did the cover which was first seen in SAVAGE SWORD #27.
'Long Night of Fang and Talon' is part two of the Amra saga and features lots of action and monsters as well as seeing Conan traveling around with the loyal and fitfully powerful Sholo, the black lion. Both must rescue Belit from the dungeon of the mind controlling Beast King, Abombi. An early tale of King Kull follows it as well as a history of Kull. Ernie Chan did the exceptional cover art.
Issue #40 is part three of the action packed Amra saga, reprinted from SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #26 and covers several years from Conan's days on the Black Coast to the Pictish forests. A tale of young Conan follows it. Earl Norem designed the cool cover.
While I'm not crazy about this cover, it is the exciting conclusion to the Amra saga adapted from Howard's 'Beyond the Black River' series. Lots of action close out this epic storyline. Incidentally, no artist is credited with the cover and it's not one of the more attractive designs. A Solomon Kane story, 'Blades of the Brotherhood' closes out the issue.
And finally, this cover for CONAN SAGA #44, reprinted from SAVAGE SWORD #42, features the cover taken from SAVAGE SWORD #35. What's special about this one is that this was the very first SAVAGE SWORD I ever laid eyes on and it was in a barber shop. The gruesome Bob Larkin cover kept my mother from allowing me to skim through this magazine I instantly fell in love with. The main story here is 'The Devil Tree of Gamburu' adapted from Howard's 'Conan the Buccaneer' novel. Here, Conan battles amazons and man eating plants!
UNTIL NEXT TIME....
With the release of the new Hollywood THOR movie, I thought I'd dig out a handful of old Thor comic books I have. Granted, I wasn't around when this character first hit, but these mid 60s issues were given to me by my uncle. He has pretty much every issue of every Marvel character including first appearances. This will likely be a multi-part special like the Godzilla Marvel series from a few posts back. The following issues range between 1965 through 1966.
I've never been a huge THOR fan, but some of the issues are interesting as are the characters appearances in THE AVENGERS comic series. The above issue, #114, is the earliest one I have and it isn't in the greatest of shape.
Funnily enough, this new Hollywood makeover isn't the first time Thor has been seen in a movie. He featured in the TV movie THE INCREDIBLE HULK RETURNS (1988) and was played by Eric Allan Kramer, a muscular actor who also played the lead in the awful mess, QUEST FOR THE MIGHTY SWORD (1990).
Speaking of The Hulk, Thor first did battle with the big green monster in JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #112, also the issue with the origin of Loki.
These string of issues here with Hercules I like quite a bit as they are more mythological in nature as opposed to being Earthbound.
TO BE CONTINUED.....
This entry showcases the covers from my collection of the nine issue run of cult comic fave, DEVIL DINOSAUR, a brief series that ran its course throughout 1978.
DEVIL DINOSAUR was the creation of the prolific artist, Jack Kirby. While the series wasn't popular at all, it has since accrued a healthy following over the years. Seeing it as a kid, it jumped off the comic racks and into my hands, especially being a huge dinosaur enthusiast as a tyke.
The origin of the two main characters, Devil and his humanoid companion, Moon Boy, is revealed in the first issue. While the book no doubt is aimed to the small fry set, Kirby's simplistic stories meld science fiction with prehistory. It isn't unusual to see aliens from another world populating the panels along with our prehistoric journeymen (and monsters).
All the classic staples of caveman/barbarian movies are utilized here, sometimes sharing space with the futuristic hardware of invading alien races. There's giant spiders and ants among the dinosaurs, a neolithic giant and also a haggard witch with the power to propel Devil and Moon Boy into Earth's future circa 1978 in the last issue.
The storyline is very basic in that Moon Boy rescues Devil (then a green saurian creature) from a clan of "killer folk" who attempt to burn the beast. Moon Boy saves him and nurses him back to health, only to now find the mighty monsters hide has turned bright red, somehow giving the dinosaur an increased strength capacity.
From there, it's one kiddie matinee level adventure after another as Devil and his trusted companion confront the evils found throughout "Dinosaur World". The character also turned up in a couple issues of Marvel's Godzilla comic series, which was going on at the time. Devil Dinosaur also cropped up in various other comic books over the years in guest appearances.
Incidentally, if you were ever a fan of Hanna Barbera cartoons such as THUNDARR, or THE HERCULOIDS, than Kirby's DEVIL DINOSAUR will be right up your comic book/caveman alley. It has the feel of an animated series (apparently, it was planned for one) and also has appeal to those with a fondness of the original LAND OF THE LOST TV series.
This is the third, and concluding chapter for the covers to the Marvel Godzilla comic series from the late 1970s. There's also one back cover that will be of interest to nostalgia buff. I'm missing issue #19, so I got that cover online for completion. During these last few issues, Godzilla is shrunk down to size and ends up battling a sewer rat, battles the Fantastic Four, the Avengers and finally, is transported back to prehistoric times where he meets up with Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy! Double click a pic to see the images in full size.
At top and above are the covers to issues #17 #18 featuring 'The Incredible Shrinking Godzilla' wherein Japan's native atomic son is shrunk down to tiny size by a shrinking gas created by Yellowjacket and must fend off the advances of 'Dum Dum Dugan' and his S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and even a pesky and very hungry rat.
Here's a back cover from one of the last issues of this series. Those who remember the first airings of the original BATTLESTAR GALACTICA will get a kick out of this ad.
As noted above, this is the only issue I am lacking so this cover comes from google images.
Issue #20 continues with Godzilla's "shrinkage", but he begins to grow back to normal size from here and is one pissed off radioactive lizard.
Dr. Doom's time machine is employed to send the 'Leapin' Lizard' back to prehistory days where he teams up briefly with Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy, a creation of Jack Kirby which only lasted for 9 issues (I'll be posting all those covers next). Godzilla did the dinosaur for two issues before returning to modern times. Above and below are issues #21 and #22.
Issue #23 sees Godzilla taking on some of Marvel's most famous hero teams such as The Avengers and The Fantastic Four.
Issue #24 is the last, and like this entire series, echoes much of what made the famed film series from Toho so memorable and so much fun. A little boy halts Godzilla's rampage, the great beast then returns to the sea. Throughout this series, other staples of the movie series were employed such as races of evil aliens, the construction of a giant robot to counter Godzilla and other allusions to the film series. Spiderman puts in a cameo appearance in this last issue.
UNTIL NEXT TIME....
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It's been a long time since the last Cool Ass Comics entry; late August of 2011 to be exact. This one contains the cover and a couple of advertisements from the first issue of Savage Sword of Conan the Barbarian. This monumental first issue premiered in August of 1974 and features a cover by the great fantasy artist, Boris Vallejo.
