This week’s “Comic Book of the Week” is “The Savage Sword of Conan” #201, which was published by Marvel Comics in Sept. 1992. This comic was titled “The Man in the Iron Tower” and featured Robert E. Howard’s famous character, Conan the Barbarian, and Valeria of the Red Brotherhood. The creative team included Roy Thomas, writer; M.C. Wyman, penciler; Dave Simons, inker; John Costanza, letterer; and Tom DeFalco, editor. Vince Evans was the cover artist for this issue, which sold for $2.25 at newsstands.
If you were paying close attention, you might have noticed that the creative team didn’t include a colorist. That’s because “The Savage Sword of Conan” was actually a black-and-white comic book magazine series. Its distinction as a magazine was important because that meant the publishers didn’t have to abide by the rules set down by the Comics Code Authority. Let’s face it, Conan’s adventures contained a lot of blood, guts and lovely ladies, which were hard subjects to get around for writers and artists having to go along with the CCA rules.
“The Savage Sword of Conan” #201 was a 64-page issue that begins with Conan at the Second Battle of Massacre Meadow. Conan’s a general, successfully leading Aquilonian troops, against a clan of Picts. Conan’s forces defeats the Picts, and Conan returns to the capital city of Tarantia as a hero.
Conan’s greeted by King Numedides, a spoiled, overweight tyrant, who locks his enemies in the Iron Tower, where they await their executions. At court, Conan meets Thulandra Thuu, the king’s “counselor in matters of the arcane and the occult,” and Publius, the royal treasurer. He also has a romantic encounter with a beautifully tattooed dancing girl named Trommelind.
Later, at banquet in honor of Conan, who’s been dubbed the “Hero of Velitrium,” Conan meets Count Trocero, aka, the “Leopard of Poitain;” Dexitheus, a priest of Mitra; Lord Prospero of Poitain; and Alcemides, a philosopher. They exchange a few war stories, but things take a turn for the worse when King Numedides notices that Trommelind’s got a thing for Conan. Conan’s already drunk, and Numedides has his servants give him wine that’s either more potent or has been drugged. In any event, Conan eventually passes out and is unceremoniously tossed into the Iron Tower.
Numedides brands Conan a traitor and apparently has Trommelind skinned of her tattoos. Prospero, Dexitheus and Trocero learn of what’s happened and plot Conan’s rescue. Meanwhile, Thulandra Thuu torments Conan, who’s chained to a dungeon wall, with demonic hallucinations. Later, Prospero, Dexitheus and Trocero hire Valeria of the Red Brotherhood to rescue Conan.
Armed with her sharp sword and knowledge of a secret entrance into the Iron Tower, she slips in and frees Conan. They have to fight their way out and even take out a pair of zombie guards that have been animated by Thulandra Thuu. As a horde of guards began to close in an overwhelm Conan and Valeria, Conan knocks her out and hides her in a secret alcove, knowing that when she awakes the guards will be long gone.
Not having to worry about Valeria’s safety, Conan gets away by stealing a horse and fleeing the city. The issue ends by saying that Conan intends to return to the Bossonian Marches, where he will raise a revolt of his Lion Regiment. Together, they’ll return to Tarantia to take out King Numedides.
This comic (unless I’ve sold it) and others are available for purchase through Peacock’s Books on Amazon.com. If you’re interested in buying it, search for it there by title, issue number and date of publication.
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