CONAN THE BARBARIAN Vol. 1, No. 67, Oct. 1976 “Daggers and Death-Gods!”

CONAN THE BARBARIAN Vol. 1, No. 67, Oct. 1976 “Daggers and Death-Gods!”
Writer:                 Roy Thomas

Artist:                   John Buscema

Cover Artist:      Gil Kane

Finishes:              No Information                               
Colorist:               Don Warfield
Letters:                                Condoy
Publisher:           Marvel Comics Group

Editor:                  Roy Thomas

Editor In Chief: No Iformation

Cover Price: $.30 (Current Near Mint Price $6.00)

Cast:

Red Sonja

Conan

Belit

Tara of Hanumar

Yusef

Cat Fight…

“Daggers and Death-Gods!” (Vol. 1 No. 66) left us with Conan and Belit seemingly pitted in a fight to the death situation with Red Sonja for possession of a page from the Iron Bound Book of Skelos.  After all, Red Sonja did say “Aye! And only one of us may leave with it—though it mean the other’s death!”  Conan, being that Red Sonja is a chick, albeit a very deadly chick, decides to use a little diplomacy.  Really though… think about it, if some guy had muttered those words to Conan he’d meet death before the words fell from his tongue.  The two exchange stories about how they came to plunder the very same  item.  It seems as though Red Sonja was employed by Karanthes a high priest of the god-bird Ibis, who offered her a priceless gem if she would retrieve the page.  Conan relates how he and Belit’s services had been procured by the Publio.  See Vol. 1, No. 66, Sept. 1976
Red Sonja and Belit trade insults which soon leads to sword play…All the while Conan stands by idly hands on hip.  I wonder what is going through his mind at that moment…I mean really, to have Red Sonja and Belit fighting over him.  It was probably some Hyborian age equivalency to “Worrrrrd!!!”  Red Sonja’s skill with the sword slowly begins to overpower Belit who concedes that she has less skill than Red Sonja with the Sword, but boasts her strength lies with the bow and the dagger.  Out comes the dagger’s and the fight begins to even up.  Red Sonja douses the flame to a torch and uses the cover of darkness to grab the loot and make her escape.

Conan and Belit split up, he chases Red Sonja while Belit heads back to her ship.  While giving chase, Conan is recognized by Tara (Vol. 1, No. 57) who begs Conan to help Yusef, her lover who is being held on less than truthful charges.  Conan agrees to help free Yusef, all the while the two are unaware that they are being watched by a Stygian sorcerer who has a strange affinity for house cats.

Conan makes way to Yusef and finds him guarded by a single guard, like taking candy from a baby…right?  Nope, not this time…That single guard is some sort of were-cat, man-beast and puts up one heck of a fight, even after Conan skewers him like a martini olive.  Conan finally bests the half man half cat beast and affects the rescue of Yusef.  Once outside Conan and Yusef’s escape is discovered and they are again striking steel and rolling in the dirt with would be killers.  Conan nearly feels the bite of cold steel had it not been for the timely return of Belit.  With Yusef and Tara reunited and safely on their way out of town, Belit and Conan resume their chase of Red Sonja.

Croms Verdict-

Good read, but it didn’t even come close to the last issue (Vol. 1, No 66).  As always, John Buscema’s art work turns an alright story into a good story, tis the case here my fellow Cimmerians.   With out Buscema this one would have only pulled two swords.  I was really expecting a little more out of this one, with Red Sonja and Belit…Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the exchange of “pleasantries” and the cat fight, but it just wasn’t as great as I had expected.  Don’t shy away from this read though, because it’s still Conan, which means it’s still good.

Reviewed by:  Crom’s Fist