Let's Read - Conan the Avenger

[lordyam]

Okay we are now on the fifth main Conan series. After the drek that was Queen of the Black Coast it's a massive step in the right direction. The Art is a mixed bag (sometimes I don't mind it but I see why others do). Storywise it's a return to form after the drug trips in Ophir.

So let's dig in to Conan the Avenger

Issue #1: Shadows over Kush Part 1

Recap: We open with a shot of houses in Kush; a black man screams and declares that such a thing can not come out a human. He tells the midwife to kill the abomination that has come out of his wife. The midwife explains that it only drew one breath but that it was enough to kill the mother. We see the baby and HOLY SHIT is it ugly. It's a four armed reptile thing. The father, Commander Amboola, screams in despair, saying that the horrors they've endured are not natural. An old man arrives at the door, saying he will judge if it is witchcraft or not. We find this man is Agara the witch finder. Amboola curses him for failing to save his wife, asking what good his chants and fetishes are if innocents die. Agora says he can't persecute crimes that haven't been committed yet and that prey must reveal itself. He parts back the earth and reveals a spot hidden in the dirt. Agara says that all recent omens point to the witch being a foreigner who has recently arrived in the city. He swears that wherever he hides he won't escape Agara. Conan meanwhile sits at a table surrounded by wine bottles, wondering how he came to be in Shumballa. He remembers the caravan as he turns, recalling that he joined it in Zabhela on the Black Coast, trying to get further inland from the sea. At this point he's very drunk, perceiving the bottles as "surges that deepen into purple hazes of mystery." Conan remembers the Tigress burning and then another memory. A guy telling him they're headed for Kush. Conan says then he is too and orders the guy to get moving. He also recalls that he had been headed to Kush when Belit found him. Before love found him. So he decides to head to Kush, stopping at the caravansary, and getting drunk since for a few brief moments it allows him to forget Belit isn't alive (we see an image of Belit staring at him disapprovingly, and at one point a kid draws on him.)

A stranger approaches, noticing that Conan's cape is Argossean, saying he knew a man named Publio who specialized in....when Conan grabs him and tells him to go away. The man is rather offended and a dark skinned man in a turban says to be careful. He says Conan came here a few days ago on the same camel train and promptly began drinking away his demons. He's staying away to avoid rousing them. The fist stranger thanks him and introduces himself as Callimaco of Argos. The dark skinned man calls himself Muru of Kordafan. He says he's a trader in dried lotus. Callimaco says he peddles in wonders and portents and glimpses into the future, though from what he's seen the fortunes of the people change little from one generation to the next. Guru says that this is punt, where the Gullahs slave in the Iron Mines (the richest in the black kingdoms) for the Chaga nobility who hide behind the walls in El Shebbeh. Callimaco says that El Shebbeh might be a better marketplace for him, while Muru says that the Chaga are suspicious so it's easier said then done. None can enter the gate without the proper pass. Callimico swipes the pass from Muru  while feigning sadness that he'll have to catch the next caravan out. He walks off pocketing the pass. As he walks away Amboola is drowning sorrows of his own, mourning the death of his wife and son. His friends are trying to console him saying Agara will find the witch. Amboola angrily says that he doesn't need Agara to know who the witch is. He says everyone knows it's Tananda. Amboola's companions try to shut him up since he's making a scene with his rantings about how she wants to keep a true Kushite off the throne.

The commander of the Chaga guard, Bakri, hears the commotion and tries to tell Amboola to cut it out, trying to appeal to the friendship they had as children. Amboola refuses and even says that Ananda and her family should be overthrown and that he can incite the spearmen (who outnumber the royal guard 20 to 1) into armed revolt. Bakri says that enough is enough and places Amboola under arrest. Amboola is dragged away demanding justice, prompting Bakri to order him taken to the Tower of El Shebbeh. As this is going on a crowd of louts see Conan's drunken state and decide to rob him. As the louts leader signals the girl who drew on him earlier his friends remove his cloak, and Conan is carried off by the two other louts. Agara meanwhile sacrifices a bird and conducts a ritual on the spoor he recovered earlier, telling the loa to lead him to the master. Conan wakes up when a woman drops mud and bones on him and Conanwakes up to realize that he's in a rubbish heap that smell of a dead animal's intestines. He's in only undies and he's been drawn all over. Conan realizes he's been stripped of everything and asks himself is this the end....before deciding hell no (he sees Belit looking down on him.) Conan decides he will never sink so low and climbs his way out. When a snake bites him Conan shrugs it's off and proceeds to defeat it and the others that emerge from the animal bones. A time later he climbs his way out, and comes across the bastards who threw him in. He demands they give him his gear back and they try to brush it off as a joke, threatening to kill Conan and saying he's unarmed and not a threat. Conan says he's not unarmed. They brought him a sword. The guy with the sword thinks he's full of it. The sword's his now. Conan says "No. My Sword." The guy charges Conan deciding to kill him....and Conan promptly disarms him, rips the sword out of his hands and slashes the throat of one of the others. The survivor panics and drops to his knees for mercy, saying he sold the gear to a man named Wiraj, who's hut is against the wall to the west of the bronze gates. He gives the helmet back but Conan throws it away. He then forces the guy to lick the blood off the sword.

Some time later Wiraj is locking up history. Conan calls him a fence and Wiraj tries to deny it but Conan tells him to cut the crap and that he has what is Conan's. However, because their actions DID snap him out of his stupor he won't kill him; in fact he'll even let him keep the  mail and cloak (which Wiraj is wearing). However, he wants the boots back (we see a flashback of Belit giving him the boots). Before Wiraj can answer Agara shows up, distracting Conan enough for Wiraj to flee. Conan yells at Agara saying he'll pay when Agara calls him a witch saying he won't take one more step. Conan is bemused and Agara says that the Fetish that hexed a noblewoman's birth was empowered by an evil loa. That loa led Agara to Conan. What's more Conan's body is covered in Cosmogram tats. Conan calls Agara an idiot and tells him to go away. Agara, being proud, refuses to admit he makes mistakes so Conan lounges tat him saying "You have found your death on purpose."

Review: This was a great issue; after the lameness of the final issue of Queen it was great to see a Conan who kicked ass and took names; even his humiliation served a purpose ion that he finally realizes how low he sunk and decides to never get that way again. His decision to show mercy is entirely in character. We also meet Agara, a talented if arrogant sort who nonetheless wants to save his people. We also see the political backdrop of the Gallahs (who are the majority) slaving under the Chaga (the minority.) We see the resentment and anger in Commander Amboola and honestly I don't blame his anger even if it is poorly shown. Yes he's angry but it's an anger born from grief. The grief of a husband and father. The issue ends on a great cliffhanger. It's a coincidence, but it's one that makes sense within the story. All in all it's a damn good story that sets the series off with a bang. 8 out of 10.

[jbruel0]

Thanks lordyam for all those great reviews and summaries. Jb

[lordyam]

Okay let's begin Issue #2: Shadows over Kush Part 2

Recap: As Conan and Agara clash (Agara's spear being surprisingly durable against a metal sword) the real witch observes from the shadows. He had been ending a purchase at the same moment Conan stormed in demanding his gear back. Agara ALSO happened to show up at the time and mistakenly thought Conan to be the witch. While the fight saved him from immediate detection it also means he can't leave. Realizing that both are equally matched, he decides to intervene. Meanwhile, Conan and Agara stop fighting, and Agara compliments Conan for not relying on sells and secrets to do his fighting. Conan protests he's not a witch but Agara in his ego doesn't care. He declares that his art is sanctioned by Apedemak (rather then unsanctioned witchery) and binds Conan with a spell called the White Darkness. As he gloats he detects something....and immediately sees a horde of zombies behind him. He thinks it's impossible; the spell of White Darkness prevented Conan from summoning anything. The Zombies grab him, but Conan saves him by slcing one in half and then joining him back to back. Conan mocks Agara, asking if he feels less infallible. Agora says the baka led him to the house....but then realizes something else. Maybe it was Wiraj the fence that was the target. As he says this we see a shadowy figure creep away along the wall. Conan is sceptical (Wiraj seems as witcherly as Conan) but that Wiraj has gear stolen from Conan; Conan declares he WILL NOT abandon the hunt till he gets it back. Agora declares that the zombies won't return to eternal rest until whatever animates them is dissolved. Agara says this makes Wiraj his quarry too, and he asks where he could have gotten too

Conan says that if Agara hadn't interrupted Conan killing him both their problems would be solved.....when he sees Belit standing on top of a hut pointing him in a certain direction. Conan leads Agara into a forest, with Agara saying "so you still claim to have no mystic sight, northman?" Conan says "The Name is Conan. Come with, or don't. It makes no difference to me. Your old bones will probably just slow me down anyway. They run into the forest, as the zombies behind them rise. They continue on and run through a village, before descending into a canyon. Conan explains that he's a Cimmerian. Agara says that Conan is far from home, asking what brought him to Shumballah in the first place. Conan says something about the mineral baths soothing the soul as well as the body (is he lying? I'm not sure) Agara says they have no mineral baths, and Conan says he was misinformed. They read a fork road, with two cave entrances in different directions. Belt's ghost points them to the right. Inside they discover a forge, where the fat foreman orders them to stand back. Agara tries to negotiate with Tahir (the foreman), saying they seek Wiraj, but Tahir isn't interested. There hasn't been a witch since Tahir was born, and he doesn't think highly of Agara. What's more, Wiraj is someone he has dealings with (we see Wiraj hiding in the horse) so he won't turn him over to Agara. Conan asks if the dealings are worth his hide, explaining that Wiraj has his gear and he won't leave without him. Tahir pushes him away and orders him to get out...and is promptly pushed back in turn by Conan, tumbling into some of his men. Conan quickly blocks a hammer strike with his sword. Unfortunately, he's pushed back against the well of lava. The heat doesn't kill him but his sword is submerged, and thus easily broken by a single swing. Conan thinks fast, activating the bellows and immoliating most of the attackers. Another worker (a big burly dude) tries to attack Conan but Agara hits him in the back, knocking the guy down. Wired flees during the chaos.....and finds himself surrounded by zombies. He screams horribly, with Conan and Agara following on.

They arrive, and we see that the tunnels lead to the Necropolis. The Chaga nobility lay their dead in the pyramids that stand before the mounds of the Gallah ensuring that even in death the caste system remains. However, in front of the pyramids they see a ghost cauldron, that summons Baka in order to possess the Gallah ancestors and make them rise against them. The zombies approach and we see Wiraj among them. Conan instantly realizes Wiraj can't be the witch and decapitates him. Unfortunately this does nothing to slow him down and he begins to strangle Conan. Conan's attempts to free himself fail because Wiraj wears the armor he wore on the Tigress. Agara thinks quickly and uses his magic to banish the baka from Wiraj. Unfortunately the spell took the last bit of energy he had, so he orders Conan to destroy the cauldron. Conan runs forwards, commenting that Wizards power waxes and wanes with the moon while steel is always steel. Unfortunately the zombies begin to dogpile him and it looks like he won't reach it as Agara orders him to hurry. Suddenly, Belit's ghost descends and with a single swing of her sword sends the zombies flying. Conan is bemused but quickly rushes forward, sundering the cauldron with a single swing of his sword.

When the dust clears Conan is putting on his gear, and wishing Agara well. He plans to leave since he got what he wanted, but Agara admits that Conan's words had more truth than he wanted to admit. Even though Shumballah needs him most age is weakening him. And while the road is necessary, he has been so focused on his job he hasn't taken a wife, or sired an heir or even taken an apprentice. He asks Conan to stay buy his side and help until the witch is killed, since he's proven worthy. Conan is amused that Agara has gone from calling him a witch to a witch finder, but Agara says that he knows that what he sees in Conan is real and can be used for good or evil; he begs Conan to let it be used for good. Conan asks if there's money and Agara says not much; whatever the Gallah elders can afford. He gives Conan a small sack to reward him for what happened tonight. Conan is intrigued but at the same time rather reluctant. Agara tells him to take his time, but that he'd be honored to have Conan fight by his side. Conan, seeing Belit on the roof of a pyramid, asks Agara if he's ever encountered a man being haunted like a place is cursed so that wherever he goes the shade follows him. Agara says it's not common but not unheard of either. He explains that dark mages can summon spirits to bind them, but that innocent people can fall prey too. When grief or pain runs deep they can anchor the dead by accident. In both cases only a strong exorcism is enough to dispel them He asks Conan why the question and Conan says "an idle fancy, old man. Nothing more.

We cut back to the witch; though he has escaped he is not happy. We find that he had to buy a forged pass to gain entrance to El Shebbeh, for it would not do for the boss to learn his pass had been stolen. We also learn that the ghost cauldron was meant to be the CLIMAX of the reign of terror, not the opening act. Conan and Agara's presence and their fight forced his hand. Fortunately, he has other options. He enters a building and a child bound to an x shaped cross pleads for water. The witch can't remember if the kid is Bryunthian or Nemedian. He had gone to the caravansary to settle accounts with the slavers who gave him the boy. The boy continues to beg, saying he's an innocent, and the witch, still in shadow, says "SSSSH. Fear not, child. I won't" He emerges from the shadow, revealing.....Meru of Kordafan. We get a short of the moon and learn that for twelve hours between the zeniths of two moons "the signs of gating had dried on the boy's skin." The boy starts to convulse. Meru utters an incantation, and the boy begs, declaring that he is in pain, that it burns. And since he hasn't eaten or drinken, he is a purified vessel. The kid's stomach is torn open and from the boy's screaming body a boar headed demon emerges, ready to do the master's bidding.

Review: This was another good issue. The only odd spot I had was that Belit's ghost was still there guiding Conan, but even then they explained that Conan's grief is binding her to him. I get that he's no longer in a stupor but hey, grief is powerful. Even if he can function the wound will never fade. The reveal that Meru was the witch was well handled; I knew because I read the Roy Thomas version but a newcomer will definately not feel cheated. The Ghost cauldron was pretty cool, and it makes sense that it was meant to be the endgame of the plan rather than the intro. We get pretty good world building, and the Chaga pyramids feel entirely in character for a bunch of narcissistic prats. The action was top notch, and Conan and Agara had a good rapport. If you can get past the wierdness of Belit being involved it's a top notch issue. I'll give it an 8 out of 10

[lordyam]

Issue #3: Shadows over Kush Part 3

Recap: Amboola wakes up slowly, still sluggish from the alcohol that he drank before. He's lying on a couch, remembering that he is in the top cell of the prison tower. As prison cells go it's rather luxurious; even Tananda dare not go to far with the guy who commands the bulk of Kush's army. We see that the bars have been ripped open, and Amboola remembers that he was woken. As he struggles to remember he looks around.....smack dab into the hideous boar demon. He falls of the couch and runs for the door....just as it looks like he'll reach it the beast grabs him and pulls him back. We cut to outside as a blood curdling scream erupts. The guards outside react with shock. We cut to a man named Afari knocking on the door of a man named Thuthemes; Afari says the devil is loose in Shumballah. Thuthemes opens the door and invites him inside asking what he's saying. Afari says that Amboola is dead; Thuthemes is shocked. Surely Tananda would not have dared. Afari says that no, she wasn't a fool. Amble was murdered. He explains how something rome through the cell bars and tore his throat out, as well as breaking his skull and stamping his ribs. While he's seen the dead before, none have ever been as hideous as Amboola's (we see a quick flashback of Amboola's rib cage) and Afari says it has to be the work of a demon. The throat was bitten out and the teeth prints resembled neither a lion nor an apes; instead they were by what seems to be chisels that are razor sharp. Thuthmes says that gods and demons work for a bold man, and that he doesn't think Ananda was stupid enough to have Amboola murdered. The blacks were rather sullen ever since he was thrown in jail and Tananda would have had to release him at some point soon.

Still, it presents them an opportunity. He orders Afari to first have the guards executed for sleeping on duty, and make sure that it was done by THUTHEMES's orders. This will show that he avenged the commander. He also orders him to find Agara and plant the idea that Tananda was responsible in his head. Afari asks how any common man can lie to "that black devil? His eyes are like coals of red fire that look into depths unnamable." Also he's seen him make corpses get up and walk, and clamp their skulls and grind their jaws. Thuthemes tells him not to outright lie; just....hint in a certain direction. He also says that if a demon slew Amboola there had to be a human who summoned it. Maybe Tananda is behind it. Atari leaves and Thuthemes looks into the night. He heads into his garden and wakes a man sleeping against a palm tree. He declares that the deed is done; Amboola is dead and by morning all Punt will know Tananda was behind it. The servant Shubba starts to ask about the demon, when Thuthemes pimpslaps him into silence. Thuthemes tells him the demon has gone back into darkness, and orders Shubba to leave. Handing him a sack of gold coins he orders Shubba to search among the Shemites until he finds a suitable woman, and to return speedily. If he does it quickly (by the next moon) he'll be given the girl's weight in silver. If not, he'll be hanged from a palm tree. A loud scream pierces the night, and Thuthemes gloats that the people have learned of Amboola's death. Agara meets with the Council elders, who chew him out for failing to catch the witch; in light of the disasters (the death of Amboola and his wife, the incident at the necropolis) they see him as a failure to the Gallah. Agara says that the latest incident occurred behind the gates of El Shebbeh. He suggests that he could get things done if he was allowed to examine the site, and asks them to petition the king. The elder leader declares that Jullah has spoken (or more likely THEY have spoken). Until Agara shows initiative he won't get any more gold. Agara walks away, when Afari catches up with him.

The gates of Punt open up and Queen Tananda and her escorts enter the town. The people are hostile, and Captain Bakri says that it was foolish to ride in Punt. Ananda says that "all the black dogs in Kush shall not keep me from my hunting" and orders the guards to ride down anyone who threatens them. Bakri says this is easier said then done and they all ride on. Agara watches angrily and declares that Ananda is the one who murdered Amboola. The crowd, riled up, declares death to Ananda. Bari is pulled off his horse while another guard is hit with a stone. We cut to a flashback of Conan's dad holding a mask worn by a Pictish Shaman. Connacht is contemptuous of such practices, saying wizards try to talk the world into giving up it's bounty like a miser haggling in the market. And look what it earned this guy. He throws the mask (complete with severed head in it) to the ground and tells Conan to shun wizards and their ways; Crom gave him breath and blood, and that is all he needs to survive in the world. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar. He tells Conan to listen to his father. Belit appears, saying he's a very wise man. Conan wakes up with a start, in bed with two prostitutes. He gets dressed but they demand payment. Seeing how little gold he has Conan flees on horseback as the prostitutes curse him. Conan rides along, wondering whether to take Agara up on the offer or flee. Due to the circumstances of last night he realizes that Belit may continue to haunt him, and so just this once there may be justification in turning to a wizard for help. He's interrupted by coming across Tananda and the crowd, who quickly pull Tananda down from the horse and strip her of her breastplate bikini top and her skirt before pelting her with a rock. She swears that her brother will punish them and they will all die screaming when Conan cuts his way through the crowd, saving her. Bark catches up with the guard as Conan covers her with his cape, and Tananda tells him he took a long time coming before signalling the guards go impale the poor bastard.

Tananda asks who Conan is and he gives her his name explaining that he's here to seek his fortune, as he was formerly a pirate. Tananda realizes that he is Amra the lion who sailed with Belit and asks if he's not a corsair what is he now. Conan says he's just a penniless wanderer and Ananda says no now he's captain of the royal guard (as the rest take Bakri's helmet off and give it to Conan.) She gives Conan a horse telling him to come with her to El Shebbeh so she can present him to the king. Amara approaches him asking him if he's made his choice. Conan says he has and Agara says that Tananda doesn't deserve her sword. Conan says his pockets deserve her gold and rides off. As he enters the city he sees Belit on the walls; at first he thinks his father would like his choice. Next he thinks "maybe I like being haunted" which isn't a nice thought. In Thuthemes's estate Shuuba presents Thuthemes with a willowy blonde girl in rags. Thuthemes admits he'd be tempted to keep her if he weren't gambling for the throne. He asks if Shubba has taught her Kushite like he ordered, and Shubba says he has (implying he threatened her). The girl's name is Diana. After he rags are taken off she kneels in front of Thuthemes and Thuthemes says he's giving her as a present to Kush's king. Nominally she'll be his slave, but in reality she will serve Thuthemes. The King, being a slothful degenerate, will easily be dominated by Diana; however, if she is tempted to disobey she'll regret it. He leads her to a dark corridor, ending at a mirrored wall. She sees the boar monster behind the glass and screams. she clings to Thuthemes and he tells her "You have seen my servant--do not fail me, for if you do he will search you out wherever you may be....and you cannot hide from him...."

Review: This was a slower issue but again it's a good one. We see more of the tension beginning to brew, as Amboola is murdered and Thuthemes blames Tananda for the crime. This guy is a masterful schemer by the way; evil but at the same time charming and cunning. Certainly more charismatic than Arpello. We also meet the mysterious Tananda and good lord is this bitch hateful. I'm not a fan of violence against women but I was tempted to punch this bitch in the face. We've met quite a few aristocrats and highborn over several series. Some of them (Ereshka, Almuric, Julion, Yasmela) were decent sort, but Tananda is the stereotype of every cold elitist aristocrat imaginable. She kills her own captain for failing to be fast in getting there, and gives Conan the job before his corpse is cold. Conan's internal dilemma was also a nice touch, though technically Conan HAS dealt with Kalanthes. Than again, Kalanthes is literally the only GOOD wizard Conan's really dealt with in his career so I suppose it makes sense. All in all it's a bridge issue, but a very good one. 8.5 out of 10.

[lordyam]

Issue #4: Shadows over Kush Part 4

Recap: Agara rallies a crowd of Gallah warriors, saying that they should avenge their people and be the hand of Jullah's justice. If they won't give up the witch (Tananda) then they will tear down El Shebbeh brick by brick. The drums go off and on the walls one of the men says that the attack will come soon. Conan tells the guy to get up and face thee enemy. He has no use for men "whose blood turns to milk on the eve of battle." One of the men explains that it's not that. The guard are the bastard children of the Chaga nobles and the servants they've "imposed upon" (read, raped). The Chaga see them as good enough to die but not live in their palaces and the Gallah hate them immensely. So much so that if they're captured alive it's worse than death. The soldier doesn't fear death by sword or spear. But to be tortured for weeks by people who claim he isn't "gallah enough"....that makes him tremble. Conan seems understanding saying that Crom smiles on bastards. He gives a rallying speech that's rather awesome. "Listen up, you must! I was BORN on the battlefield! War was my midwife, and she has NEVER failed me! Soon you will learn why your cousins on the Black Coast named me Amra the Lion! Look to the man on your right--and the man on your left! You do not fight for Kush, or for El Shebbeh--you do not fight for the divine right of kings or other noblemen's lies! You fight for these men you call brothers--for the next hot meal, a warm body in your bed, the chance to fill you down pockets with coin--and because I'll run your useless hides through if you don't make a good bloody show of it!" The drums stop and the warriors charge

They begin to scale the walls with makeshift climbing hooks and Conan gives the order to hold fast. He impales one guy in the face as he climbs up and the guards, rallied by Conan's words, push back too. As the enemy advances Conan has the men form a spear wall which does it's job, as more enemies fall off the wall. One of the soldiers notices that the enemy has broken through the other side. Conan leads the men away as the warriors advance. At first they seem doomed, with enemies declaring "Apedemak drives the unclean ones before us" and "Capture them living! Sacrifice them to Jullah!" and "You have nowhere to run, Dogs!" However, Conan and the others have gotten around a big thing covered in a cloth. As the cloth is pulled back we see that it's a ballista with a pendulum shaped head. The thing is launched and the entire row is cut down instantly. He orders his men to run down the enemy for calling them dogs. After the battle Conan is standing before the king. Thuthemes is telling the King the news, which is that the attackers were repulsed with the guards loosing 12 men alone. The king, eating like a slob asks if twelve is not a lot. Conan says the families may consider it 12 to many. When asked if they won he says yes and the king doesn't care (Burping in a manner unbefitting of a monarch. Conan stares at the fat bastard (seriously, he's like fat bastard but black.) Conan can't even remember the King's name; everyone knows Tananda is the power behind the throne. She beckons to Conan from behind a curtain as the King demands Thuthmes provide him entertainment. Thuthmes has anticipated this and brings out Callimaco, who has evidently been making a splash with the nobles these few weeks. He appears in a flash of smoke, and demands a volunteer. He picks Diana, and we learn that she's Brythunian lather than Nemedian like in the original. Conan moves through the curtain.

In Ananda's room, Tananda asks Conan if this battle was just the beginning of the uprising rather than the end. Conan says it is and Tananda demands that the mobs thirst be slated with blood OTHER than hers. She gives Conan the order to find a witch, torture him into confessing, and hand him over to the Gallah. Conan asks how he should find a witch. Tananda suggests going into the street and randomly accusing a foreigner of the crime. Tananda wants it done by noon tomorrow and Conan says no. When she mockingly asks Conan if she offended his honor Conan says he's a Cimmerian. He has no honor. He thinks honor is the lie civilized men use to trick themselves into thinking they are better then beasts. Conan doesn't wage war against the innocent because it bores him. Besides, it will only placate the people for a short time; than when the witch strikes again they'll be angry again. Tananda throws her wine at Conan and demands that he execute her orders. She says that he only acts, when Conan grabs her arm. He says that is how a slave acts. He is here by choice and she should be happy for that. He grabs her as they slap him and they kiss (though Conan likes to think of her as Belit.) Ananda tells Conan to take the armor off (she's gotten onto the bed) and that she'll show Conan what she thinks about him. They proceed to fuck, though Conan prefers to close his eyes and pretend it's Belit. The problem is that the longer he spends in Tananda's service the harder it is to see Belit.

Later in the day Thuthmes is amongst the Gallah, bringing food to the warriors and treating their injuries. He declares he wants to build bonds of friendship and prays the royal family will get to the bottom of the mystery. A woman says that perhaps another should sit on the throne. Thuthmes talks to her, indulging her and asking how many her tribe lost in the battle. She says she lost count after fifty. Her brother's son, and two of her own were among the casualties. (Oddly Thuthmes calls her mother. Is she is real mother or is she some other woman? I can't tell.) He hugs the sobbing woman and promises justice. Agara watches suspiciously and approaches two prostitutes. He whispers instructions to them.. They approach Thuthmes and seduce him (by fondling his balls.) He orders Shubba to take over while he goes with the prostitutes. Later that night Diana and the other women of the Kign's harem lie with him in his bed. Diana gets dressed and sneaks out through a passage when Tananda grabs her from behind and puts a knife to her throat. Turns out she's not fooled by Thuthmes's act and suspects him of using Diana. She orders Diana to tell her what Thuthmes is planning or she'll flay the skin from Diana's bones. Diana sees the shadow of the beast.

Recap: This issue is largely original material but it's pretty good. The action sequence is top notch, and the bond of brotherhood between Conan and the bastards is really a treat to read. Agara also starts to grow suspicious of Thuthmes; it's nice to see that he's not an idiot. However, one thing really stood out. Conan's comment about how honor is a lie. Now Conan's not a nice guy but he HAS displayed honor. He refused to turn in Atrias until the guy betrayed him, and he helped Murilo even when he could have cut and run. Maybe it's that he's still upset and thus is trying to bury his emotions but it's odd. Overall though it's a good issue. 8 out of 10

[lordyam]

Issue #5: Shadows Over Kush Part 5

Recap: Agara is in his hut, conducting a ritual. He pours a milky substance into a bowl and continues to chant. Conan's second (Matak) enters the hut and tells him that Conan demands an audience with him. Agara calls him Conan and Matak says they call him Amra the lion. He's amused by the description of them as "his bastards" but agrees to come, saying a trip to El Shebbeh suits him as well. We see the face of Thuthmes in the pot. Matak leaves him to wait in the palace gardens, but when he sees Thuthmes himself he can't resist and walks over to him. Thuthmes tries to tell him to go away but Agara bluntly asks him to give him the name of the Witch he hired before he presents his findings to Conan. Thuthmes changes his tune and tells Agara to meet him in the palace throne room. They leave. A short time later Conan returns, annoyed that Agara isn't there. Ordering Matak to search for Abit, he says that they need to give him their resources so an innocent doesn't suffer. He'll do his best to stall Tananda. In the throne room, Thuthmes tells him that the only reason he hasn't clapped him in irons is that he's well respected. Agara tells him that it's nonsense and says "You want to know how much I know. Which is enough. The whores whose ministrations you enjoyed in Punt yesterday were in my employ. They held your seed in their thighs to bring to me for divining. The loa have confirmed you, not Ananda, are the true architect of this plague of sorcery." He calls Thuthmes a fool for dabbling in forces he can't control or understand for petty intrigue. He demands that the name of the mage be given to him, or else he may not tell the King and Tananda about his plotting. Thuthmes is amused, saying "YOU would lecture me on arrogance, old man?" Confronting me in the palace that will soon be mine?" Agara summons his white darkness and incapacitates two men before spearing Shubba in the arm. He starts to leap at Thuthmes, declaring that he will drag him to the temple of Jullah to face justice, but the wily dog pulls a string, causing Agara to fall down a trapdoor. Agara breaks his leg in a way that the bone breaks through. As he screams in agony Thuthmes says "not from where I'm standing." He summons Muru, telling him that Conan is on the trail. Perhaps it's time to send their beast onto his trail.

Conan walks into Tanada's chambers to ask her for more time but is shocked to see her whipping Diana. Telling him that Thuthmes gave Diana to her brother to get influence she says she did everything to get the girl to talk. However, she would only ever repeat five words. The snout in the dark. Conan asks what that means and she says that it means Thuthmes somehow put more fear of him in her to the point where she wouldn't be scared of Tananda. She admits she's impressed, but states that if Diana cannot tell her anything, she's made sure Diana can't tell Thuthmes anything. She holds out her hand....which has Diana's tongue. Conan is so blinded with fury that as Tananda turns her back Conan picks up the whip and starts whipping Ananda with such violence that he draws blood. She's furious, ranting that she found Conan and he is nothing without her. Conan, who has freed Diana during all this, picks her up, laughs in her face and walks away as she threatens to "steal the light from your eyes!" She walks away nursing the cut Conan gave her, and looks out the window to see Callimaco plying his trade on some Chaga noblewoman. Tananda immediately screams WITCH and points at Thuthmes. The guards drag him off as he protests. In the dungeons, Matak is asking the guardsman at a dungeon door where Agara is. The guard says he hasn't seen him, so Matak tells him to keep an eye out and alert the guards if he turns up. The guard agrees. Inside Thuthmes tortures Callimaco, trying to get a confession. He's playing the good cop, and at first Callimaco resists. Then Thuthmes orders the guy to start again and Callimaco confesses. Thutmes turns to Agara (bound in a chair) saying that Witch hunting doesn't seem challenging.

In his chambers Conan lays Diana on the bed; he doesn't sleep on the bed, preferring the pallet on the floor. He says she has to stay here until he can figure out a way to smuggle her out. Possibly himself too. Conan thinks that Belit would be scolding him for jeopardizing their position. Conan turns to the phantom and gets into an argument with it,, saying that yes he knows women must be more ruthless than any man, but he saw her being treated badly and he acted on instinct. He angrily declares that he doesn't need her to lead him around by the balls either in life or from the grave. Unsurprisingly Diana is terrified and tries to run. Conan shuts the door saying that he retains the loyalty of Tananda's guards, and that she will be seized if she leaves. She should stay in the room because it's the safest place in the palace even if he does converse with the occasional phantom. Diana tries to say something (she's against a wall by the fireplace at this point) but Conan can't understand. He tells her to calm her nerves, but than realizes he could do something else. Taking some charcoal from the fireplace he gives it to her and she writes a message asking him not to hurt her. She can lead him to treasure. Conan is annoyed that she thinks he'll hurt her but is intrigued by the mention of treasure. She writes down that her sister was enslaved with her in sHem. There's a stygian hoard. Conan asks her to draw a map and she does, marking a place in Stygia. Conan says he knows the place, having travelled to Shem with Belit. (Damn it and you were doing a good job convincing me that atrocity never happened). Maybe with the gold he can be free of civilizations shackles for good.

Diana tries to speak. The boar demon is in the window. Eventually she manages to make a sound; Conan turns and sees the beast. It lunges at him, scratching his face, so Conan runs for his sword, which is on the wall. The beast tackles him and they fall out the window.

Review: Things are building up to a conclusion; at the same time this issue was weaker than the last one. Agara does confront Thuthmes but lets his arrogance get the better of him, confronting Thuthmes alone in the throne room rather than meeting Conan first. Ironically this if anything would have preserved the regime; not only is Tananda cleared, but she would loose a powerful political foe. At the same time Conan's conversation with Belit is rather.....odd. I get that he's being haunted, and that he needs to move out of his funk but Belit seems a somewhat antagonistic force in that she represents his self interest and desire to hide from his emotions. On the other hand, maybe that is legitimate. Technically Conan IS trying to hide and while Belit only ever helped him dwelling on her isn't doing Conan any good. I get Conan needing to move on but there were other ways to do it. All the same, it was nice to watch him give Tananda a taste of her own medicine. And we even get a hint at a future plot line, with the treasure in Stygia, and the sister in Shem. At the same time, the cliffhanger is one of the best I've seen in a Conan comic. It's not as strong but it's a good enough issue. 7.5 out of 10.

[lordyam]

Issue #6: Shadows over Kush Part 6

Recap: Wood for a bonfire has been prepared in Punt, with Thuthmes declaring to the Gallah he has heard their cries and that he has listened. He claims that the witch has been found. He holds out a scroll that he claims is a confession signed by Callimaco confessing to all the crimes that Meru has committed. The fire is lit as Callimaco begs for something else. Thuthmes declares that while he has not revealed the name of his coconspirators he may see fit to unburden his soul of guilt before he receives Set's justice. Callimaco begs for mercy, sayingg he's a faker. Thuthmes asks Shubba if he knows to resist at first THEN shout the name. Shubba says yes. He's under the impression that otherwise he will burn. Thuthmes asks "And he actually believed me?" As Callimaco is lowered Meru returns; he's still pissed that Callimaco stole his pass so he wants front row seats. In the bathhouse for the LADIES Conan and the beast both fall into the pool, with Conan demanding a weapon. Diana who has followed find a sword as Conan fights the beast hand to hand (his armor protecting him from the worst of the injuries. The beast knocks Conan back into a wall, but Diana hurls the blade at the beast, hitting it as it advances. Wiping the blood from his mouth Conan extracts the sword and challenges the beast. Fortunately the sword is just what the doctor ordered, as Conan severs the beast's fingers and strikes a massive blow on it's belly. He finishes the beast off with an uppercut to the stomach, unleashing a torrent of blood in an upward strike. Conan muses that wherever he goes it's the same. Wishes and schemers, "civilized" men try to outwit fate with gambits and smart.

Back with Callimaco the crowd is screaming for Callmicao to die. Callmicao screams that it was Ananda and demands that he be let up. Thuthmes orders them to be silent, for the "witch" has called out his mistress's name. Conan shows up at this point, dealing another injury to the beast, saying "Crom laughs at you all! Only a strong arm bends the world. The beast falls into the crowd and reaches out to Muru begging "M-Master Help Help Me, Master". Muru tries to deny it but realizes no one buys it so he flees. Not for long as he's surrounded and promptly hacked to death by the angry mob. At this point a voice cries out, and we see Agara running forwards surrounded by men, declaring that while they have brought justice to he who serves two hands, they have not gotten the brain who directed him. He declares that it is Thuthmes. Thuthmes tries to make his exit back to the palace but before his men can close the doors they force them back, screaming "Down with the Chagas." "Death to Tananda." "Gallah kings for Gallah People." Thuthmes's litter is toppled and his servants desert him in panic. The doors come down and crush Thuthmes like a bug. As the crowd starts slaughtering people Conan looks for Agara and sees him running down a hallway. He and Diana (who now has clothing covering her breasts) run after him. Agara may be the one person the mob is willing to listen to. They make it to the dungeons, where two hooded men bar their way. Conan simply draws his sword asking "really?" The guards think better of it and flee. Conan and Diana go into the chamber, and find Agara's body strapped in the chair. Conan touches it. Cold as a stone, meaning he's been dead for hours. Conan mourns Agara; he was a good man and like many good men is dead before his time. But hey, at least he was avenged.

In the King's bedchamber the crowd finds the king and his harem, and as the king calls for his guards a warrior slits his throat. Tananda is pursued up the stairs and as she's on the ledge she tries to whip them back. "Cringe, dogs! It's all you've known. It's all Gallah Dogs are good for!" She declares that the hatred they feel should be directed at themselves. They made enslaving them easy. She throws herself off the building, and collapses on the floor with a bloody smear. In the dungeons Conan is prepared to take on the warriors charging down the stairs when Diana accidentally touches a brick with her elbow, revealing a secret passage. She alerts Conan, who quickly knocks a brazier over to bar their path before taking her down the passage. As luck would have it, they're in sight of the northern gate, which the mob hasn't reached yet. Batak approaches, asking him to wait. Conan initially refuses as he won't be kindling in the flames, but Matak says that the guards don't either. Conan is confused but Matak explains that the men took an oath to protect the gates and king. Both have fallen so they have nowhere left. They beg Conan to let them join him. Conan is amazed, but Matak explains that even if they weren't filled with Chaga blood they'd be killed anyway as servants of the regime. Conan says it was Tananda who made him leader, and Matak says "And it is by choice we wish you to remain there. We are Amra's Bastards?. The guards cheer Conan on, and Conan is amazed. If any man wants to follow his path they may be mad enough to survive it. So he agrees. He declares that Kings need mercenaries, loot needs plundering and Diana believes she knows the location of a hoard beyond imagining. He gets her onto a horse, s and all he need are a few spears to seize it. So what the hell are they waiting for. Conan and the Guards leave with their pack animals, with Conan, having a command for the first time in years, feels more alive than he has in years (I thought he and Belit were partners.) Even some of the wives and kids have joined. As they leave Belit watches before fading away. Conan feels that he's missed something but it's small, easily forgotten. We get a final shot of the boots amongst the burning city.

Review: This was a good conclusion. The fight with the beast kicks ass and it was delicious to see Thuthmes Meru, Tananda and her fatass brother face justice. Agara's death was also rather sad. For all his ego he was a good man who didn't deserve his fate. I also LOVED the touch of the guards joining Conan; in the original story Conan and Diana leave alone, but honestly after the rapport Conan had with his men having him abandon them seemed cruel. We also get new adventures.

That said, there WERE two small problems. The first was poor Callimaco. The poor bastard was still burning and while he was exonerated by the beast fingering Meru, I doubt the crowd freed him in the chaos. The second is the implication that Belit is somehow an antagonist. Conan forgetting the boots she gave him is seen as a sign he's moving on with his life. I get that it's admirable to move on but he can still cherish Belit. Also I was under the impression they were essentially equals. All in all it's a wonderful adaptation but thise things really bugged me. It's better than Roy Thomas on the whole though, and it leaves me wanting more. 7.5 out of 10.

[lordyam]

Addendum: I think that Vale of Lost Women should have gone first; we would have seen Conan dealing with his grief, and than climbing back from his lowest point. Then we could get the straight adaptation. Although honestly I WOULD keep Conan taking the guards along. That's something that's just so inspired it should have been in the original.

[johnnypt]

>>Addendum: I think that Vale of Lost Women should have gone first; we would have seen Conan dealing with his grief, and than climbing back from his lowest point. Then we could get the straight adaptation. Although honestly I WOULD keep Conan taking the guards along. That's something that's just so inspired it should have been in the original.<<

I think the title had enough problems rather than to go straight into an adaptation of what's generally considered one of Howard's weakest Conan stories. They went with Dale's positioning of Vale later on and the "solid" evidence of the fragment's positioning right after Queen. I tend to agree with the later positioning these days, having Conan embittered about what happened in Tombalku instead of Belit's aftermath. Then he joins the Barachan pirates from there.

I'd only been able to get reviews done for the first 12 issues of Avenger before real life took over(heck, look how long it actually took for me to read the last 6 issues of the title, let alone write about them). At some point I'd like to go back to do Xuthal, Blood Oasis and Witch reviews. We'll see what the summer brings.

[johnnypt]

Yeah even here I kind of skipped around:

#1

Dark Horse has adapted three fragments so far. Mike Mignola’s Hall of the Dead was based on just a synopsis which he followed closely. Tim Truman’s Hand of Nergal was based on two pages of a story with no idea of what story it was meant to tell. He took the incidents depicted in them and used them in a different order than the way they were in the fragment. Fred has a lot more to work with, he has both a detailed synopsis and several chapters to use. But he’s decided to hold off really getting into the events of the story until next issue. He introduces several characters mentioned in the story (Agara and Amboola), but waits on introducing the two women characters.

While Dark Horse has made a change in writers, they are keeping several things on the art front. First, they will be continuing the “new artists every arc” rotation from the last series. I didn’t like it, many readers didn’t like and Van Lente has said it’s not his preference, but for whatever reason, they will still do it (a new artist was already named for the just solicited #4). They are also seemingly keeping the thinner Conan template from the last series as well. Brian Ching put up a few preliminary sketches on his site when we was announced as artist and it looked quite good. When the issue appeared, it was a little disappointing in that Conan looked a lot like the last series. That having been said, the art does work for this story. I wish things were just a little clearer.

So after one issue, am I optimistic or pessimistic? Looking back at the last #1, you could probably tell I felt something was just wrong. The pieces were there, but they weren’t put together right. This time, while the art isn’t as strong as I’d like, the writing is really good. Conan’s still missing Belit, but the way it’s done makes all the difference. He was in a bar last issue and ended up embarrassing himself. This time, you get the feeling THIS is how Conan would get drunk in a bar to mourn his lost love. When he wants his boots back, he’s vicious about it. No moping with this guy! Here’s hoping.

#3

Fred takes the slightly unusual step of using all of the surviving fragment in this issue. Everything in this issue, from the first page to the last, matches the fragment exactly. But by doing it in issue #3, it gave him a chance to develop the characters and the situations they’re in. This is especially in the case of the relationship of Conan and Agara, which is isn’t really there in the synopsis and the dialogue between the two at the end of the issue is completely new. This ups the dramatic tension of the situation Conan finds himself in and allows him a bit more knowledge of the danger he’s in. I made my displeasure known of when things were added to the previous story. This time, things are done in context and most importantly, in character.

#6

Fred Van Lente did a difficult thing for someone who really didn’t have a lot of experience with Howard’s material before: he took fragments and a synopsis and turned it into a story that read like it was written Two Gun Bob himself…well almost anyway. The only choice I disagree with was the cutting out of Diana’s tongue. I can’t recall REH ever leaving the “good” girl permanently maimed like this. They might get whipped like she was, but only the really bad girls, or ambiguous ones like Belit, end up dead. Other than that though, he captured the frenzied chaos Howard only hinted at in the synopsis. Bodies are smashed and torn apart, fire consumes everything and blood spills everywhere. It’s very refreshing after the last couple of years to see this approach. It’s what Conan needs.

Eduardo Francisco did the last three issues, following Brian Ching’s lead with a little cleaner style. Conan’s still portrayed a little too much on the thin side for some long time fans. I understand the complaint and on some level agree with it. But it’s closer to the older style than several of the artists from the last series. There were hints in the past couple of issues towards which story will be adapted next. The opening pages of the next issue will make it plain as day…or dusk…

[lordyam]

Issue #7 The Damned Horde Part 1

Recap: We open with Conan and Natala in the desert. Conan gives Natala the last of her water when she's thirsty, letting her drink what is left. After telling her not to waste strength in weeping he throws the canteen away and begins to draw his sword. He's pretty sure that it's the end of his road; as full of life as he is, one more day will see on on the ground and broken. He thinks Natala has suffered enough and is raising his sword to kill her and spare her pain; better she die now in a relatively healthy state.

We get a flashback, first of the army of dead mercs belonging to Almuric; then we get memories of him with Amra's bastards. Turns out most of the issues are going to be an extended flashback. Conan muses that he was happy with just his band. He took them north and taught them various survival skills (how to sleep on rough surfaces, what water not to drink and more importantly how to wring as much meat from a bird as you can.) Eventually they're in Shem, near Nippr the city of Ziggurats. They're camped in a maze of giant heads, and Diana is showing them a map of Nippur. Conan thinks that each of them should break into small groups that each enter and exit through one of the many different entrances. They'll snatch Natala under cover of night and escape through the gates. Matak points out that the map may be out of date; after all it's been months since Diana was purchased by Thuthmes's man. Conan concedes the point and says they'll scout the streets to be safe and to make sure Natala is still where Diana remembers. Matak suggests simply buying her; Conan doesn't want to since he figures that since they're thieves they might as well steal what they consider valuable. Also, maybe she isn't for sale. Matak is skeptical of the idea, since he's never met a slave owner THAT sentimental, and they both prepare to settle in for a long argument that will have Conan probably ignore the counsel. Conan orders Diana to get water since he suspects both of them will be quite horse by the end.

Diana instead walks towards a cliff edge, still traumatized by what Ananda did (especially the cutting out of the tongue. Just as she's about to leap off, one of the guardsmen pulls her back. He comforts her, saying that he realizes that she can never be satisfied due to Tananda killing herself before Diana could. However he gives advice; live her life, find happiness with people who love her and care for her. Let her survival be revenge. At least she shouldn't be so rude as to deprive them of the pleasure of her company. Diana is touched by this, and the guardsman introduces himself as Abit. He bows, and she curtseys in respect. In the evening everyone is asleep, but a bunch of pale skinned savages crouch on top of a head. Abit's taking a leek when he sees the savages move and alerts everyone. When one attacks Abit deflects the thrown axe and kills the guy when he lunges. Conan is shocked to recognize the dead individual as a Ligurean; Ligureans are pale skinned savages from Pictland. Matak shouts for everyone to pursue them and Conan obliges, curious to know how the fuck they got all the way to Shem. They pursue, but are so caught up they fail to realize they've entered a mercenary camp until AFTER they're in danger (he sees archers above them and soldiers in front of them.)

The sentries mockingly ask if Conan is the leader or the mascot and Conan tries to introduce himself when a voice declares "He is Conan. A Cimmerian. Son of Corin, Smith to the Snowhawk Clan. You wouldn't remember me, would you, boy?" Conan does in fact recognize the voice, the speaker of which Conan recognizes. Turns out the guy's name is Eamon, and he was kicked out for selling weapons to the picts. The elders felt if he loved the wild men so much maybe he should join them, and was banished beyond the black river. However he heard that the picts flayed him alive. Eamon confirms that yes he was flayed, but that he survived. He brought the ligureans south as their war chief since he wanted what was best for them. One of them protests that Abit killed one of them, and so Eamon allows another to try and kill Abit. Conan intercepts and decapitates him. "Any two of my men is worth four of your cannibal scum. That means I can kill at least two more of yours for free." Eamon says that Conan has balls and that "your ball sack will make a roomy coin purse." It looks like the warriors are about to face off when Prince Almuric (the mercenary leader) arrives, wondering what the racket is. Conan introduces himself and explains what Eamon's men tried to do. Surprisingly the fact that the Kushite guards left under Conan and allowed the royal family to die amuses him and he greets Conan warmly giving platitudes about how his men are freedom fighters trying to liberate Koth and how they need funds. Conan is immediately unfold. He knows Almuric and his men are rogues; well the men are. They just want easier pickings and Shem has those nicely. The only liberating they'll do is "liberating" people from their lives if they get in their way. Almuric himself just seems a vacuous idiot who likes hearing his platitudes spouted back it him. He offers to let Conan join, but before Conan can answer one of his sentries sees the map in Diana's skirt and takes it.

Abit tries to protest, but Matak tells him to shut up and not throw his life away. At least not until he's fucked Diana. He gets Abit to calm down. Almuric recognizes the map as being of the city of Ziggurats, and Conan gives him part of the story (she worked as a runner for a temple majordomo before being sold to El Shebbeh) but lies and says his plan was to raid the storehouse (well he implies it). Almuric (calling Conan "Cormac") tells Conan he was thinking too small; with his armies they could raid EVERY vault. He holds the map high and declares that he promised fortune. He tells them to moont up; they will be at Nippr by dawn. One of the men declares "three cheers for good prince Almuric!" As the men cheer Matak gives Conan a look and Conan says "Don't give me that look, were we to fight our way out of here? Besides, it will be easier to slip the girl out of the city while this rabble attacks." Batak points out they'll have to fight out anyway if the army learns about the hoard. Conan says "Come Matak. You're not looking on the bright side." Smiling, he continues "Have you ever seen so many men who DESERVE to die?" The issue ends here.


Review: This is a damn good issue; Overall it does a sublime job setting up the next adventure; we meet great characters. Matak is a foil to Conan; Conan is the impetuous but smart planner, Matak the somewhat less so but still competent guy who's more pragmatic than the Cimmerian. Abit is a nice guy; somewhat clumsy (especially in his overtures to Diana) but he's a good kid at heart; I can see why Diana cares for him. Diana is still badly scarred by what Tananda did to her, but she's starting to recover thanks to Abit. We also meet some of the villains of the arc; Eamon the Flayed is up first and this guy is menacing. He's arrogant and haughty, and maybe he does care for his ligureans but I think it's more "they're my servants they follow". His backstory is told quickly and we learned he was selling weapons to the picts. Honestly I'd expect the Cimmerians to kill him outright but hey, we got a good villain out of the deal. We also meet Almuric; now, when Truman was doing his series he was implying that Prince Julion would be the rebel prince. It was foreshadowed they'd work together again when they parted; however, this was apparently a casualty of Brian Wood's blatant disregard for continuity. Fred does do his best to adhere to it, and too his credit he does an admirable job (he manages to not only bring Janissa back after an 8 year absent but succeed in making her compelling where Busiek failed miserably.) Still, Wood did do a lot of damage and while his version of Almuric works, it's still jarring.

The intro montage was good at establishing how desperate and hopeless things are for Conan and Natala, while the bit where Conan trains Amra's bastard was short, too the point, effective and hilarious (basically it's comedy that works. Conan teaches them how to survive but because they're city boys they're....a little behind.) All in all it's a good issue that sets the stage for the next arc. 8.5 out of 10.

[lordyam]

Issue #8: The Damned Horde Part 2

Recap: Natala sleeps in her rug on the floor and gets dressed. She opens the curtains for her bosses, lights a fire and makes gruel. She carries the gruel on her shoulders and crosses over the pits where everyone is kept. Throughout this they call out to her, either pleading or just insulting her. She pours the gruel and leaves. The guy on the other side asks "you TOLD them your NAME?" Natalia leaves and goes to cry in a corner before looking out the window. We get a nice shot of Nippr, and we get a description about how Nippr is really prosperous. Even race and nation has individuals coming to trade shit. Gems, weapons, animals, slaves....they have 8 gates, each of which are manned by the best merc companies money can buy. Conan and the Bastards ride up to the gate and manage to get in by claiming to be mercs looking for work. Conan pays the guy and they're allowed into the gates. We get a voiceover describing how each of the outer gates are connected to the inner gate by a tunnel as long as five horse gallops. The ceilings have murder holes, each of which are watched over by tireless archers. They are kept tireless by an endless supply of red lotus (so red lotus is a stimulant). We cut to a flashback of Almuric discussing this and he says an army is hard to hide. Even if they breached the outer gates they wouldn't get past the inner gates, which would seal shut and allow them to be trapped like fish in a barrel. Conan acknowledges this but challenges the assertion he's given up. MAtak, also at the table, says that "You forget a thing, Prince Almuric." When Almuric asks he says "We are men of kush." We cut back to the present, As the inner gates open and a kushite slave pulls back the wheels, Conan signals his men and they quickly spear ALL the archers in the murder holes. In the past Matak says "And Kushites are the best spearmen in the world."

A guard quickly orders the gates to be dropped but Matak thinks quickly, throwing a specialized spear with a base that holds up the gate and keeps it from closing. The gatesman is speared before he can do anything. Conan and Matak fight their way to the top of the stairs force their way in, and quickly overpower the guy on horn duty, who can't even blow he's so scared. Conan takes it and says "Let me show you how it's done." He blows the horn so loudly in camp that even Diana hears it in camp. She moves to leave but Eamon stops her saying "No, No. Don't Go, Diana. This here is the best part." Back on the field Almuric has divided his armies into groups. His Kothians attack the north gate. His Hyrkanians attack the south. His Ligureans attack the east. And so on. As professional as Nippr's armies are, they're used to defending against a single army using one tactical set. Not "polymorphous tactics" of "polyglot foes." As such they're caught with their pants down and have conflicting actions. Some go some places, some go others, some stay. All this time the rest of the horde amasses near the northwest gate. The watchmen realizes too late that they've seized the northwest gate already, and declares that they'll enter the city. He orders his men to cut the attackers down, but it does not good. "And that was how doom came to Nippr." (we see the horde slaughtering various people in the streets.)

In the tent Eamon gives Diana a long monologue about how she's wondering why he isn't with the men. Won't they think poorly of him sitting in camp with the women and wounded?" He explains that the Ligureans aren't logical; they're ruled by the spirits. He tells her that when the Ligureans had him they flayed his skin and started cooking and eating it in front of him. During this the headman choked on one of the pieces and by the Ligurean's sense of logic that meant EAMON had to replace the guy. He tells her that he's continued his reign because he doesn't give them a reason to turn. As such, it doesn't matter what Almuric or Conan says; Abit will pay a blood debt to the soldiers. And who knows, "Things get lost in the fog of war. Especially lives." He reveals he ordered them to spirit Abit away quietly as possible, and noticing that Diana has a horrified reaction mockingly says "Ahhh! You're soft on him, Eh? Well, grieves my heart to break up young love....but it's not like you'll have much use for sweethearts once I'm done with you!" Attempting to grab her, he's temporarily waylaid when Diana knocks over a shelf, but Eamon isn't deterred. He says Almuric has fallen in love with Conan so it will be harder to pay Conan back for cutting the other dude down, but he's pretty sure Almuric won't care once Diana tells him the REAL reason they were skulking about Nippr. He grabs her, saying he doesn't believe Conan's story, asking her to explain where she was running off to? Did he signal her to meet him? If so where and why? He finally notices Diana has no tongue and slimily says "Well, Lass. I was taken with you before....But now I think you're the GREATEST woman I ever MET."

In the streets Conan and Abit are crouched behind a wagon, and Abit asks what is the name of Natala's sister. Conan says it's Natala and that she's been sold to the warden of the markets of men" He orders everyone to split up, surround it and in the confusion they should be able to steal her out of the side gate before Almuric's men realize they're gone. They'll meet up with Diana by the stone heads as planned and then they will hear more of the treasure hoard from Natala and be on their way to putting the gold in THEIR hands. As they're saying this a Ligurean climbs onto a wagon and spies on them. Conan hears a nice as he flees and sees him leaving. Batak wonders if he overheard and Conan says "We have to act like he did!" He orders Abit to steal a horse and run after him. As Abit races after on horseback Conan orders him to not let the scout reach Eamon. If the scout does, this whole venture is doomed. The issue ends with the Bastards being aimed at by a battalion of archers.

Review: This Issue is AWESOME. We meet Natala in the flesh and see her miserable and crappy life. It does the job well, showing her misery and desolation. The attack on Nippr is a joy to read; it's executed with military precision and is a well coordinated badass action sequence that if on a tv show was made it would probably be up there with Blackwater or Hardholme. Unfortunately Conan and the crew run into a problem; Eamon is rightly suspicious and stops Diana from leaving. He then compounds this REALLY REALLY creepy rapist overtones with her that really makes you scared for her. And worst of all Eamon's scout overhears everything, forcing Abit to pursue him. Can Conan and the Bastards emerge intact and keep their deception up? 9 out of 10.

[lordyam]

Issue #9: The Damned Horde Part 3

Recap: We finally get Diana and Natala's backstory. Their dad was a "castle man" (I think he was nobility) and Natala married a handsome prince who ALSO happened to be a gifted scholar (so gifted he's one of the many who wrote the Nemedian chronicles. His hobbies included finding old scrolls and deciphering them. Eventually one such scroll talked about a schism in Stygia back when it was young. Some dispute over the fourth mystery (wow I think that's an rpg reference). This resulted in the high priests, acolytes, and the servants of Djehuty (the scribe of Set) being kicked out of Memphia (Book of Thoth reference, though here it's called "the old capital".) The camel train had as much treasure as they could carry....treasure such as a copy of the Book of Skelos. The papyrus recovered later had the details of the final battle and the hoard they left behind. He came to the conclusion that the survivors of the battle were the basis of the Chaga bloodline, so he set sail for Zebhela and then Shumballah to prove his theories. Diana, his sister in law, and Natala his wife accompanied him. However they were attacked by pirates and the Prince was taken prisoner to parts unknown while Diana and Natala were sold to slavery (though in this case it was as domestic servants.) Eventually Thuthmes's man, as part of Thuthmes's power plan, bought Diana.

In the present Diana thinks about how there's been rushing wind in her heart since the parting, and now it's on the verge of closing. Now she's just leagues away and Eamon is the warrior who bars her way; he's the only obstacle. She's determined not to let him stop her from achieving the reunion she's awaited for months. So as Eamon makes more slimy comments Diana grabs a brazier and burns Eamon's face before running away from the tent. YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!

Back in Nippr Conan goes over the directions and begins to order Matak to take one column while he'll take the other....when the archers from last issue begin opening fire. They managed to dodge, hiding behind a cart. Behind the cart Matak realizes that the alley is covered thoroughly. More damningly they can't scale the walls less they get exposed and plugged with arrows. So Conan decides not to attack from the outside.He bangs on the doors of a Ziggurat next to the sentry's Ziggurat. The merchant refuses to play ball (even as he has his servant girls holding weapons) with false bravado (he has servant girls holding weapons yet claims there are countless warriors.) Fortunately Conan doesn't care and orders the guy to listen. He says he just needs to pass through the ziggurat to the upper levels. He offers to make sure no one will be harmed if they're allowed through. The merchant initially dismisses this as a bandit's promise, so Conan decides to threaten him. If he doesn't they'll knock it down. Eventually they will succeed and the wrath they will have die to it will be unleashed upon him. He asks if the merchant believes that. Deciding that discretion is the better part of valor, the merchant agrees. Conan keeps his word and the men pass through unmolested as the slaves hide behind furniture. Conan says "So Civilization Does not turn ALL men into Morons." While Matak says "or women." They advance up the stairs, and the sentries topside think that they've persuaded the Blacks to pillage another street. This is quickly disproven when Conan throws a sword mid leap from next door, followed quickly by Matak and his crew. The captain tries to order the men to draw their swords only to be quickly incapacitated by a blade at his throat. Conan than throws everyone out the top of the Ziggurat.

Ub the streets Abit pursues the Ligurean from last issue on horseback, when a spear from nowhere (Thrown in the chaos) hits the horse. Bit continues his journey on foot, taking in the sights as he runs. Almuric stands atop the biggest slave block in the center of the slaughter. Delusionally declaring that they are "liberators" he's a demon from hell who thinks he's an angel. They run past some other Ligureans taking a merchant to roast over an open spit. As he runs he hears the screams of the raped, and sees dogs and babies and priests among the slaughtered. He's a young man who thinks it's his duty to solve the worlds problems and had previously thought it just that he had lived when the man he killed perished. Now though, after seeing the slaughter, he feels the weight of the world's evil on his soul. Up Above Matak discourse the drawbridge to the main ziggurats and uses it to create a bridge. Amra's bastards charge across the bridge under cover of arrow fire....and find it deserted except for Natala. Conan asks where everyone is, and Natala explains that the merchants fled with their servants families and treasures to hide in the bunkers. Natala was left behind because her life wasn't worth the effort to save. Conan asks if she's Natala of Brythunia. She says she is and Conan gives his introduction saying "Your life is worth more to me than you, it seems. And to your sister Diana it is priceless".....prompting Natala to faint. Conan and Matak share looks.

They walk to the slave pits and Conan frees the slaves. However one of the boys is in such terrible condition he can't move his legs. Conan is appalled and demands to be shown where the bunkers are. They find them and Conan moments that they're "Well, well. Quite the Hutch of Rabbits." The Merchants are smarmy, saying they're impregnable here. Conan says that he worries they don't have enough food to last the whole siege. The merchant leader again smarmily says "You are wrong! We have Mutton--We have Wine! Fine Cheeses. As Two of the blacks approach with a big pot of burning gruel Conan asks "Ah, but what about this wonderful GRUEL you make your chattel eat? See, they won't be needing it anymore." The merchants are "What wait NO!!!!!!!!!!" Conan's response? "Bottom's Up." The Bastards pour the tub through the grate, scalding the merchants to death. Moral of the story? Don't have grates in bunkers to taunt the enemy. Conan asks if Abit has reported back, but Matak says he hasn't. As such Eamon and Almuric might know. IF they don't return the suspicions are confirmed. If Abit's been had he'll know about the rendevousz point. They COULD potentially return to the camp, but if they've been betrayed it's essentially dooming themselves by putting their head on the block. Natala interrupts them, saying that she won't go anywhere with them unless they produce Diana. She also won't tell them about the hoard her hubby discovered. Conan says "you try my patience." Natala says "Good." Prompting Conan to say "Crom's balls."

In the camp Eamon is screaming for Diana to come out of hiding. His face is badly burned and he shouts unconvincing lies. Suddenly he sees the Ligurean approaching with Abit in pursuit. Eamon shouts at him to kill Abit, while the Ligurean tries to tell him about the treasure. Bit is momentarily filled with deeper that he won't make it but keeps his racing up. Fortunately Eamon doesn't register the treasure and orders him to kill Abit. Diana resurfaces from a pool of water behind him and impales him with a massive spear she's acquired from somewhere. Eamon sinks into the water, and as the Ligurean stops in despair Abit approaches, draws a dagger and "Saying that there's no one else in the camp able to speak Ligurean, he stabs the guy. Almuric returns, declaring that so much has been liberated, trailed by his army. Fortunately from the position he's in it looks like Abit just as his arm around the guy and they're socializing. Bit washes Diana off with water and as Natala arrives on horseback she gets off and runs towards Diana saying she freed her. They hug, even as Diana can't speak. Natal simply says she smells bad. Conan and Matak see this and Matak tells Conan he made the right choice, Conan says that Crom chooses his path and that he has all the choice of a river in a spring surge. The harder they try to flee the horde the quicker they get sucked in. A messenger arrives, saying that he Shemite Assure gallop towards them at fearsome speed. Almuric asks which states and is told "Akbitana, Baalur, Eruk and Pelishtia". Almuric is surprised, saying that normally the kings are at each others throats. Matak says "yet they band together against us. You're not just a liberator, M'Lord. You're also a uniter." Almuric orders the man to break camp and head for the south.

In the Stygian capital, the speaker of set is approached by the Vizier. The guy apologizes for interrupting his master's meditation, but he's allowed to enter. The master is told it's as he predicted; the Shemites have united against the usurper and driven his thirty thousand men across the styx into stygian, bringing nothing but rape and pillage. The Master tells him to calm down and says they'll have a look. He utters a spell own a golden orb and we see a miniature eye of Sauron. In the eye he sees Conan and says "Hmm, Him I know." The vizier asks "The Barbarian?" The speaker says "Aye. There's so much MORE to him than at first glance. and...well, now...the golden haired sisters....them I know too." The vizier asks, and the master reveals that they were related to a Nemedian Prince who discovered the location of Memphis's lost hoard. He arranged to have the ship captured by pirates before he could tell anyone.....unfortunately the prince was stronger willed than expected and died before spike or spell could get the secret. He admits that it was rare sloppiness to assume the women wouldn't have the knowledge. Still, Set is showing mercy on his loyal servant, saying that perhaps the sisters will lead him to the book for Skelos....where it will be in the hands of one of the only men actually able to use it......THOTH AMON.



Review: This was a good issue; the action continues to be top notch, and Diana gets a lot of awesome moments, burning Eamon's face and spearing the bastard from behind. Seeing Conan avenge the child slaves by drowning the merchants in burning gruel was both funny and satisfying. Thoth Amon's return was also well done, even if it was obvious that he was the speaker. Seems he remembers Conan all too well, hinting at a dramatic reunion. Speaking of.....the reunion of Natala and Diana didn't disappoint either, even if Natala's first words to her sister was "you smell really bad." There are a few silly elements (how did Diana get the spear?) but overall it had everything a Conan story needs; Action, emotion strong characters and buildup for greater adventures. 8 out of 10.

[johnnypt]

#7-8 (Note-my art commentary advice was not taken until now):

The first few pages of issue #7 were a real surprise since they depict the opening scene of Xuthal of the Dusk. The drop dead hint that would be the next adaptation was the mention of the name Natala in the last arc. Now in Howard, Natala and Diana are just two blondes, and remember Diana only exists in an unfinished story. They are totally unrelated, but Fred decided to take a page from Roy Thomas and have the two characters be related. But to actually start the story here, then jump into the pastiche section of the arc was a little odd. It’s similar to what Tim Truman did in the Free Companions arc, flashing back and forth between storylines. But so far it’s just the opening scene from Xuthal. Also, Brian Ching depicts Conan a little bulkier in that section compared to the rest of the two issues. Hopefully this leads to Conan being drawn more in line with his usual depiction. Younger Conan, while somewhat lithe, was still formidable at over six feet tall. By no means was he skinny, as he’s been drawn since the Queen of the Black Coast story. This decision has led to a number of long time fans to continue not buying the title. The skinny Conan experiment was an effort to attract a different audience to Conan (as we discussed often last series). Based on monthly sales, this attempt has not worked and should be ended as soon as possible.

[lordyam]

Issue #10: The Damned Horde Part 4

Recap: Thoth opens a chamber in a temple, filled with the corpses of generals, princes and priests of gods who gathered here a lifetime ago to plot against him. Unfortunately, Thoth was the one who called them here so he smote their bodies and bound their souls. He takes the skull while giving a speech and uses it to invoke Nyarlathotep, the haunter of the dark. Saying that the evil that he and other men do never dies, so he bids them "LET IT RISE!!!! I SAY, LET IT RISE!!!!"

Elsewhere Natala tells Conan more about the papyrus; it was acquired from a Darfari Merchant who claimed it stolen from the temple of Set in the city of Shumballah. It claimed to be the reminiscences of the only survivors of a sect that made it's way as far south as the valley of the rift. When it became clear there weren't enough supplies to make it to Kush, and they couldn't come up with a way to divide the food they fell upon each other with lethal sorcery. The eyewitness flyd with water and bread and saw the priests bury themselves and the temple riches in the caves separating the twin lava lakes known as the Eyes of Usir. Conan points out that Natala's husband must have thought a lot of her to trust her with the knowledge. She says that he told her everything. She was his biggest supporter, first reader and harshest editor. Conan points out she could easily have sold the knowledge to escape slavery, but Natala is contemptuous of the idea, saying she wouldn't have done it even if they would have been reunited. Sadly, Diana heard from Stygian envoys that he was killed in Luxor by the same guy who engineered to have the ship attacked in the first place. She owes it to his memory to get their first. Conan says second; she goes in after him....for her protection of course. Natala says that Conan can have the gold; Conan is shocked but Natala says she really cares about the discovery. Solving a mystery like that? The glory will belong to the prince alone. Conan thinks that this is another sign of civilization being madness, when Natala points out that his lust for coin makes him more "civilized" than he thinks. Conan flirts with her, saying that's not all he lusts for." Natala is intrigued by this and asks him to tell her more. Conan says in good time and asks a scout (I think it's Abit) what he sees. Abit points to chariots from Luxor.

Almuric is confident that they can outride them, asking how the serpent throne can use such outdated forces. Conan says that it's possibly because he can employ A LOT of them (we see a crapton more approach). Conan realizes what the archers are planning. They'll circle them repeatedly , beyond the line of site. They'll tighten the gyre until before they know it they're surrounded. On cue an army of chariots approach from in front, letting loose arrows that kill quite a few men. Conan orders Matak to pass word; there's opening that the charioteers have left; they can break through to a rocky patch and snare them there. He orders Natala to hide, and Natala protests (tired of being shunted around like baggage) so Conan gives her a sword before fleeing with the bastards to fight the charioteers. He tells his men to wait for the charioteers to be in the right place, then when they start to rattle on uneven ground He orders everyone to strike. They do (even the Ligureans do this) and Matak kills one. As the dust clears, Almuric sees them run and thinks this is proof the gods favor him. Batak jokingly suggests that he's calling Conan a god, but Conan is insulted by the implications; does he want to be held responsible for this clusterfuck? One of the men declares to give out three huzzahs for Almuric's victory; they start the first.....when the sound dies in their throats as they see what's in the sky. Conan and the others look and are horrified to see Thoth Amon's face in the sky as a black mist. Conan is horrified to recognize it. Matak is amazed asking "And you lived after laying eyes on it?" Conan explains that he knows Thoth from when he was defending Kalanthes back in Hanumar Road and explains that he's seen Thoth turn men's blood into scarabs and project that into clouds of vermin. He orders everyone to ride like hell is on their heels.....for it in fact IS. As they run we get a voice over of Conan describing how the army of Almuric perished to arrows and the plague. We see the men die and get overwhelmed by it. Elsewhere Matak and Abit are by a river with other survivors washing their faces. Abit asks where Conan is and Matak says he'll be back soon enough Abit asks why they follow him, for he is the one who led them to a desperate state. Matak tells him to be quiet, saying Conan saved them from the Gallah mob and Chaga tyrants and gave them purpose; Abit is skepticalsaying that they had a noble purpose as guardsmen but are now bandits heading to the reward of a bandit. Matak is furious, saying that he has known nothing but the guard so doesn't understand what a gift it is to be freed of it. Without Conan's knowledge of the outside world they'd have been paupers without even a copper. He raises a spear to punish Abit....when he suddenly starts coughing and collapses. He's covered in sores. Bit cradles his body and screams for help.

Meanwhile Conan has snuck to a cave where Natala is hiding (I think that's where he saw her flee) asking her if she's done composing herself or doing what women do in private, stating that Thoth gave them an opportunity to slip away from the horde unnoticed. He'll fetch the others but they have to leave now. Natala is there....but she's not alone. Thoth is holding her in thrall and greets Conan saying "Cimmerian. How lovely to see you again." Conan draws his sword, which quickly turns into a massive snake that traps him in it's coils. Thoth tells Conan that he's been keeping tabs on him ever since they first clashed in Ophir, and that there's an uncommon strength; something primal that refuses to be tempered. He says that Conan reminds him of Set, and that he doesn't think it blasphemy to say it. It's as if by his constant survival there is as much power in the nature of Conan as there is in the super nature of Thoth. So it's a pity that they've met twice at cross purposes both times. As the snake constricts him Thoth admits that COnan's strength may one day help his plans. And he has many. So for now he shall let Conan live. However, saying that "it would be an insult to your vitality if I made things easy on you, wouldn't it?" he walks away with Natala under his spell saying that maybe they'll meet again. Maybe not. Amidst the ruins Almuric is looking for Conan, blaming Conan for leading them into a trap (shows how delusional he is.) He hears Thoth's voice saying "don't forget to ask about the gold." Almuric is confused, so Thoth ensures that he'll be filled in. Declaring that his obligation to Conan is done he orders Natala to scream when they approach the location of the hoard as they ride away on a black cloud.

In the cave Conan is still in the snake's coil. It hisses, but Conan headbutts the snake, causing it's fangs to pop out. He grabs one as it falls and impales the snake through the head. He emerges looking for Natala...only to find himself surrounded by the survivors. Almuric asks Conan when he planned to tell him about the gold, and Conan thinks Abit snitched. Abit denies it, saying maybe he just looked into Conan's soul and saw the pit of avarice inside. Conan says Matak won't like Abit speaking to him so rudely, but Abit mournfully says that Matak has been relieved of command (we see his desiccated corpse.) He also explains that the rest have promoted HIM captain; Conan's leading them into this proves he can no longer be captain. Almuric tells Conan to reveal where the hoard is and maybe he won't loose more than his men. Conan declares he's ready to fight.....and then sees the sores of the plague on his hand. Oh shit.

Review: This was a good issue; Thoth Amon makes his return and by god is he dangerous. The implication that he single handedly wiped out Almuric's army with the plague shows just how powerful he really is, and Conan is visibly terrified of seeing his visage. He remembers their last rodeo all too well and wisely orders them to flee. We also find that Thoth has been keeping tabs on Conan (we see Thoth observing Conan and Yasmela getting it on at the end of Black Colossus) and strangely he seems to possess....respect for Conan. Something happened to turn that into burning hatred if the Wazir is Thoth (and we know he is). Of course he also trolls Conan by revealing the hoard to Almuric. Pretty much in character so no complaints. Matak's death was sudden and shocking; I also recall that when the issue came out Ironhand thought that Thoth personally ensured Matak got sick, since Matak wouldn't be turned. I'm not sure how true this is but it's intriguing.

At first I thought the reference to Hanumar Road was clunky but in hindsight it worked. It shows how dangerous the guy is, and Conan is the only one of the 30000 who have MET the son of the bitch. The dialogue of the confrontation is unusual but works. And of course we get one of the most ominous cliffhangers in dark horse conan history. All in all a Great Issue. 8.5 out of 10.