COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK – “Conan Saga” #45 (December 1990)

This week’s “Comic Book of the Week” is “Conan Saga” #45, which was published by Marvel Comics in December 1990. This comic contained three stories that were originally published in earlier issues of “Savage Sword of Conan” as well a cool chronology of the Conan comics. Bob Larkin was the cover artist for this issue, which sold for $2.25 at newsstands.

“Conan Saga” #45 was a 64-page issue, and the first story was titled “King Thoth-Amon.” Featuring Conan the Barbarian and based on the novel, “Conan the Buccaneer” by L. Sprague De Camp and Lin Carter, this comic book adaptation was written by Roy Thomas and was drawn by artists John Buscema and Tony Dezuniga. In this 35-page story, Conan is the captain of a pirate ship called “The Wastrel,” which has been intentionally wrecked to keep Conan from coming to the aid of King Ferdrugo of Zingara. Natives help repair Conan’s ship, and he arrives back in the capital city just in time to dispatch Thoth-Amon and his cohorts.

The next story is called “Moon of Skulls,” and it features Solomon Kane. This story is 11 pages long and was written and drawn by Don Glut and Dave Wenzel. Set in the African mountaintop city of Negari, the last colony of Atlantis, this story begins with Kane in a dungeon. His cellmate’s an insane high priest, and Kane pumps him for information so that he can rescue English heiress, Marylin Taferel. Kane learns that she’s to be sacrificed by the natives later that night when the full moon rises over a black tower in the center of the city. Kane manages to escape and arrives just in time to stop Taferel’s death at the hands of the city’s murderous priesthood.

Between “Moon of Skulls” and the final story, this issue of “Conan Saga” contains an awesome, four-page article called “A Chronology of the Conan Comics: From the Nemedian Chronicles as Interpreted by Marvel” by Jim Neal. This extremely interesting chronology covered Marvel’s Conan stories up through 1978. Of course, that was 35 years ago, but the article still makes for good reading.

The final story in “Conan Saga” #45 was called “The Woman from Khitai: A Tale of the Hyborian Age.” Written by Don Glut with art by Gary Brodsky and Tony Dezuniga, this story doesn’t feature Conan or Solomon Kane. Instead, this story’s about a powerful, but sadistic bodyguard named Shorg. He works for King Raka, who’s blessed with a harem of beautiful women.

When Raka turns in for the night, he leaves Shorg behind to protect his wives, but instead Shorg uses this time alone with the harem each night to take advantage of them. That is, until Raka's new bride, Soosha of Khitai, arrives. On the night before her wedding to Raka, Shorg tries to put the moves on her, and she not only makes short work of him, but she also ends up giving Raka a wedding present that he won’t soon forget.

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.