Savage Sword of Conan #5-6, 58/2 & 31-32

[Col_Fury]

SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #5 (April 1975)
By Roy Thomas & John Buscema

APPEARANCES:
Conan (also in fb), Queen Taramis (of Khauran, also in fb), Salome (Taramis’ sister, witch, also as “Taramis,” also in fb), Constantius (the Falcon, also in fb) & his mercenaries (inc Khumbanigash), Khaurani soldiers (inc Marcios (also in fb), Attalus), Desert Wolves (inc Djebal, Farra, Olgerd Vladislav), Ivga, Zinn, Zang, Thaug (a monster), Astreas, Krallides (decapitated head), Khitai magician (in fb)

FLASHBACK:
As an infant, Salome is brought to the desert to die because she was born with the mark of the witch (3:6). She was found and raised by a Khitai magician (4:7-5:1). Yesterday, Constantius proposes marriage to Queen Taramis, which she refuses (6:1, 6:3). Posing as Taramis, Salome disbands the Kharani army and replaces it with Constantius’ mercenaries. Conan, Captain of the army, declares “Taramis” a fake and fights the mercenaries (9:3-11:4) (between pages 7-8). Conan frees Taramis (43-44:5) (between pages 42-43 of 55)
SYNOPSIS:
In Khauran, Queen Taramis is awakened by her thought-dead twin sister Salome. Salome reveals she’s working Constantius and will be posing as her to take over Taramis’ kingdom. Constantius rapes Taramis. The populace is shocked that the beloved Taramis would throw the city into chaos. Later, Conan has been captured and nailed to a cross and left for dead. Conan fails to free himself as vultures circle above. When one comes near he bites the bird’s neck, killing it. The Desert Wolves happen by and cut Conan down. Over the following seven months, Salome has been holding orgies, human sacrifices, and screwing Constantius in public. Conan grows tired of waiting for Olgerd Vladislav to lead the Desert Wolves against Khaurani, so he takes control. Conan draws out the Khaurani forces and slaughters them. Salome goes to the dungeons to kill Taramis but finds her gone. She ambushes the emerging Conan, but he revives and rescues Taramis; a soldier stabs Salome through the heart. Meanwhile, the populace revolts against Constantius. Conan kills a monster (Thaug, called by Salome at her point of dying). Salome is revealed as a fraud and Taramis is restored as Queen. Soon after, Conan nails the Falcon (Constantius) to a cross and leaves him to die in the desert.

NOTE:
Adapted from “A Witch Shall be Born” by REH.

About 15 years later Wolverine will be nailed to a very similar cross in UX 251.

Favorite line: “I am reminded of an ancient Khitan proverb: May you be cursed to live in interesting times.”

Followed by “Caravans and Kingdoms,” an essay about the trade routes of the Hyborian Age by Robert L. Yaple.

The letters page has a photo of the 1974 San Diego Comic Art Convention costume contest winner: Red Sonja.

SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #6 (May 1975)
By Roy Thomas & Sonny Trinidad

APPEARANCES:
Conan, Desert Wolves (inc Djebal, Olgerd Vladislav (also as “Yffan”)), Dhira & Ahmed Mullah & their caravan, Turanian soldiers, Sleeper Beneath the Sands

FLASHBACKS:
The Old Gods arrive on Earth during dinosaur times but leave or go dormant when Atlantis sank.
SYNOPSIS:
In the desert south of Khauran, Olgerd Vladislav swears revenge against Conan for taking control of the Desert Wolves from him. As he’s about to be killed by vultures he’s saved by a passing caravan, who is searching for the Sleeper beneath the Sands, an Elder God, so they can it asleep with their prayers. Posing as “Yffan,” Olgerd asks to go with them when he learns Conan will soon rendezvous there. They find the temple and begin preparing for their prayers when Djebal arrives, saying Conan will get here soon. Olgerd kills Djebal, then members of the caravan when they try to stop him. He orders the caravan to attack Conan when he arrives; Conan kills many but is knocked out. He wakes up tied to the temples pillars. Olgerd plans to torture and kill Conan, ignoring warnings about the sleeping Elder God. He’s distracted when Turanian soldiers arrive and the Sleeper Beneath the Sands awakens. The ground rumbles and the temple begins to fall, freeing Conan. When Olgerd sees the Sleeper emerge he goes insane at the sight of the Elder God, which drags him underground. Conan escapes and watches as the last of the caravan prays to the beast, sending it back underground.

NOTE:
Followed by “The Gods of the Hyborian Age,” an essay by Robert L. Yaple, then “Can Any Good Thing Come out of Cimmeria?” where Lin Carter examines Conan and REH.

2nd Story:
By Roy Thomas & Alex Nino

APPEARANCES:
Jim O’Brien (also in fb), Richard Brent (also in fb), Eleonor Rand (also in fb), Conan (also in fb), Tamera (also in fb), Gaeric (also in fb), Aquilonian army (in fb), Cimmerians (in fb), People of the Dark

FLASHBACK:
Jim O’Brien and Richard Brent are both dating Eleonor Rand but she can’t decide which one she loves. Jim decides to murder Richard so that he’s her only choice. Conan and the Cimmerians battle the Aquilonian army, eventually winning. Conan spots a girl he knows, Tamera, but the jealous Gaeric tries to kill Conan so he can keep Tamera for himself. Their fights spills into a nearby cave; Tamara screams, Gaeric follows her and Conan slips, falling into a crevice and is knocked out.
SYNOPSIS:
Jim O’Brien enters Dagon’s cave to kill his hated enemy Richard Brent. He slips and falls into a crevice and is knocked out. When he wakes up he lives an adventure of Conan. Conan goes deeper into the cave to find the couple; he does, but they’re tied to a massive altar where the People of the Dark plan to sacrifice them. Conan frees the couple and together they fight the reptile-like men and try to escape, but the daylight they see is out of reach. While fighting the creatures they become separated, eventually Conan sees them on the other side of an underground river, but they fall in and vanish. Conan passes out. Jim wakes up in his own time and finds Richard in the cave with Eleonor. His first thought was to kill them both, but when a monster attacks he sacrifices himself so they could be together.

NOTE:
Freely adapted from “People of the Dark” by REH.

Conan is not yet 15 years old here.

The implication is that Conan, Tamera and Gaeric are previous lives/reincarnations of Jim, Richard and Eleonor.

I think it’s funny that a descendent/reincarnation of Conan is named O’Brien, because we have Conan O’Brien on TV, you see.

SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #58 (November 1980)
2nd Story:
By Roy Thomas & Kerry Gammill (from a plot by Fred Blosser)

APPEARANCES:
Olgerd Vladislav (becomes “the Tiger) & the Desert Wolves (inc Khemal Bey), Miraja (stolen lady), Selem (Miraja’s father)

FLASHBACK:
Recap of SAVSCO 5-6, no new information.
SYNOPSIS:
Olgerd Vladislav is once again crawling through the desert, injured. This time he’s covered in lacerations and bites from the god monster that drove him insane. He watches from afar as some Desert Wolves kill a man and take his daughter for the slave market; they leave behind a mirror decorated with a Manticore. As he dies he tells Olgerd he can use the mirror (once Tuzun Thune’s) to heal himself if he save his daughter. Fully healed, Olgerd challenges Khemal Bey for control of his Desert Wolves and wins when he kills Khemal Bey. He takes the name “the Tiger” and they ride for Iranistan after he learsn the daughter was raped and killed by Khemal Bey.

NOTE:
This story is a continuity patch to explain away inconsistencies between SAVSCO 6 & SAVSCO 31-32.

SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #31 (July 1978)
By Roy Thomas & John Buscema

APPEARANCES:
Conan & the Kozaki (inc Tubal, Hattusas, Codrus), Nanaia, Kushafi (inc Balash), Hidden Ones (inc Zahak, Antar), Hakhamani, Virata (also in fb) & his harem (inc Parusati), Khaza, Tiger (Olgerd Vladislav), King Kobad Shah (of Iranistan) & his royal guard (inc Gotarza), Kujala, Bardiya, Hidden Ones

FLASHBACK:
Virata and his followers find the mountain city and move in.
SYNOPSIS:
In Anshan, Conan evades an assassination and later learns from a harem girl (Nanaia) that King Kobad ordered it. Conan wakes the Kozaki and they ride north, taking Nanaia with. Meanwhile, someone tries to murder King Kobad; he survives but is shocked to see the assassin has the Flame Knife, the same weapon that killed the Kings of Vendhya and Turan. Learning that Conan left he sends the army after him. Conan meets up with Balash and earns of the Flame Knife cult. He travels to Drujistan to investigate. They’re attacked at night by the “Hidden Ones” and steal Nanaia; Conan and Tubal go to look for her. They find a disguised door and go inside the mountain, eventually finding a great city inside. Conan sends Tubal to get reinforcements while he looks for Nanaia. He meets with Virata, the Magus of the city. He wants to wait until the Tiger approves Conan, but tells Conan his story. Learning Nanaia was taken to be a harem girl, Parusati (a harem girl) takes him to her. They plan an escape. Conan is brought to the Tiger, who turns out to be Olgerd Vladislav.

NOTE:
Adapted from “The Flame Knife” by REH & L. Sprague deCamp.

It’s been three years since SAVSCO 5-6.

Followed by “A Gazetteer of the Hyborian Age, Part II,” a guide to locations.

SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #32 (August 1978)
By Roy Thomas & John Buscema

APPEARANCES:
Conan & the Kozaki (inc Tubal), Nanaia, Virata & his harem (inc Parusati), Kushafi (inc Balash), Zuagirs, Antar, Hidden Ones (inc Tiger (Olgerd Vladislav), Zahak, Vendhyan), Iranistan’s royal guard (inc Gotarza), King Kobad Shah (bts, died from poisoning), King Arshak (bts, becomes new king of Iranistan), King Yezdigerd (bts, attacking Iranistan), ghouls of Yanaidar, snow-ape

FLASHBACK:
Recap of SAVSCO 31, no new information.
SYNOPSIS:
Olgerd Vladislav orders his men to kill Conan, but the Cimmerian murders his way to an escape. Trying to find his way through the mountains, Conan encounters and kills a giant snow-ape. He waits by a door until someone feeds the beast, kills the man and re-enters the city. He finds the imprisoned guards who let him in originally and frees them if they help him kill the city’s Magus. They search for Nanaia and Conan finds her naked, tortured by Virata. Conan kills the guards but Virata hypnotizes Conan; Nanaia distracts Virata long enough for Conan to kill him. Olgerd and his men attack, trapping Conan and his guys in a tower. Just as Olgerd is about to lead a siege against Conan, his Kozaki and the Kushafi arrive as reinforcements. During the ensuing battle Conan kills Olgerd. The Iranistan royal guard arrives and attacks everyone, looking for Conan’s head. They’re interrupted when cannibalistic ghouls dig themselves out of the ground and attack everyone. After the survivors escape the city a messenger reveals the Iranistan king has died, and the new king doesn’t want to kill Conan and has no beef with Balash. Nanaia and Parusati have escaped the city, and Conan heads away from Iranistan but rather toward Kushaf.

NOTE:
Adapted from “The Flame Knife” by REH & L. Sprague deCamp.

Last issue referred back to SAVSCO 5-6, this issue references the “the Sleeper of the Sands.” That tale won’t be told until SAVSCO 58/2.

Chronologies!

BALASH
SAVSCO 31
SAVSCO 32

CONAN
COB 1 (14:4)-FB
SAVT 4 (4:4)-FB
GSCO 1 (15:2)-FB
COB 48-FB
KCO 9-FB
COB 8-FB
COB 1 (14:5)-FB
*SAVSCO 6/2-FB
*SAVSCO 6/2
SAVT 4 (4:5 - 4:7)-FB
COB 31-FB
COB 1
COB 2
COB 69-FB
[SAVSCO 39]
[COB 254-FB]
COB 92
COB 3-FB
COB 3
COB 4
COB 5
COB 6
COB:HOA
COB 7
COB 8
COB 9
COB 10
COB 11-FB
COB 11
COB 12
COB 13 (1 - 15:2)
FF 405
COB 13 (15:3 - 22)
CO:DCIG 1
CO:DCIG 2
CO:DCIG 3
COB 14
COB 15
COB 17
COB 18
COB 19
COB 20
COB 21
COB 23
COB 24
COB 25
COB 26
COB 27
COB 28
COB 29
[SAVSCO 132-FB]
COB 30
COB 31
COB 32-FB
COB 32
COB 33
COB 34
COB 35
SAVSCO 153/2-FB
SAVSCO 153/2
COB 95 (11:5)-FB
COB 36
COB 37
SAVSCO 233-FB
COB 38
COB 39
[SAVSCO 207]
[SAVSCO 208]
[SAVSCO 209]
[SAVSCO 210]
M/SSPEC 9
COB 40
COB 41
COB 42
SAVSCO 1
GSCO 1 (15:3)-FB
COB 43 (1 - 12)
DSSS 11/2-FB
COB 43 (13 - 18)
COB 44
SAVT 5
COB 45
SAVT 4 (6 - 7)-FB
SAVT 4
SAVT 1
[SAVSCO 34]
COB 46
COB 47
COB 48
COB 49
COB 50
COB 51
COB 52
COB 53
COB 54
COB 55
COB 56
COB 57
COB 58
COB 59
COB 60
COB 61
COB 62
COB 63
COB 65
COB 66 (1 - 16)
COB 66 (17) ~ M/FEA2 6
COB 67
M/FEA2 7
COB 68
COB 69
COB 70
COB 71
COB 72
COB 73
COB 74
COB 75
COB 76
COB 77
COB 79-FB
COB 79
COB 80
COB 81
COB 82
COB 83
[SAVSCO 97]
COB 84
COB 85
COB 86
COB 88
COB 89
COB 90
COB 91
COB 93
COB 94
COB 95 (2:4 - 3:3)-FB
COB 95
COB 96
COB 97
COB 98
COB 99
COSAV 2/2
COSAV 3/2
COSAV 4/2
COB 100
[COB 126]
CO@ 6-FB
CO@6
[COB 127]
[SAVSCO 116]
COB2 1
COB2 2
COB2 3
[COB 231]
[SAVSCO 101]
M/GN:COBSOS
[SAVSCO 66]
[SAVSCO 108/2]
M/GN 19
[SAVSCO 117]
[COB 275]
SAVSCO 219
SAVSCO 220
[SAVSCO 221]
CO:ROOT
SAVSCO 223/2
SAVSCO 224/2
SAVSCO 226
SAVSCO 229
SAVSCO 230
SAVSCO 231
SAVSCO 232
SAVSCO 233
SAVSCO 234/2
SAVSCO 235/2
[SAVSCO 131]
[SAVSCO 110]
[SAVSCO 160]
[SAVSCO 4]
[SAVSCO 62]
COV.RUNE
M/GN:COR-FB
M/GN:COR
M/SSPEC 2 (7:4 - 8)-FB
[SAVSCO 38]
CORG
[SAVSCO 223]
*[SAVSCO 224]
*SAVSCO 5 (9:3 - 11:4)-FB
*SAVSCO 5 (1 - 42)
*SAVSCO 5 (43 - 44:5)-FB
*SAVSCO 5 (43 - 55)
*SAVSCO 6
*[SAVSCO 7]
M/SAGA 1
[SAVSCO 37]
M/SSPEC 2 (6:2 - 6:3)-FB
[SAVSCO 189/2]
*[SAVSCO 15]
*SAVSCO 31
*SAVSCO 32
*[SAVSCO 165]
[SAVSCO 19]
SAVSCO 179/2
[SAVSCO 95]
[SAVSCO 181]
SJNS-FB
TCORPS 3
[SAVSCO 128]
[SAVSCO 178]
SAVSCO 144
SAVSCO 145
[SAVSCO 114]
[SAVSCO 206]
M/SSPEC 2
[SAVSCO 73 (1 - 4:4)]
SAVSCO 225 (12:6)-FB
[SAVSCO 73 (4:5 - 49)]
[SAVSCO 122]
[SAVSCO 94]
SAVSCO 40
SAVSCO 41-FB
SAVSCO 41
SAVSCO 42
SAVSCO 43
[SAVSCO 68]
[SAVSCO 69]
SAVSCO 225 (13:1 - 13:3)-FB
SAVSCO 225
SAVT 2
SAVT 3
SAVT 3/3
GSCO 1 (15:4)-FB
[SAVSCO 211]
[SAVSCO 107]
SAVSCO 170
SAVSCO 179
[SAVSCO 133]
SAVSCO 46
COK 20 (27:5 - 29:2)-FB
COK 23-FB
COK 20 (29:5 - 33:4)-FB
SAVSCO 48 (47:6 - 48:2)-FB
SAVSCO 47-FB
SAVSCO 47
SAVSCO 48
[SAVSCO 59/2]
[SAVSCO 76/2]
SAVSCO 49
SAVSCO 50
SAVSCO 51-FB
SAVSCO 51
SAVSCO 52 (1 - 32)
GSCO 1 (16:2)-FB
SAVSCO 52 (33:1 - 33:3)
GSCO 1 (16:3 - 16:4)-FB
SAVSCO 52 (33:4 - 34:3)
COK 20 (34:5 - 34:7)-FB
SAVSCO 52 (34:4 - 35:3)
COK 20 (35:1)-FB
SAVSCO 52 (35:4)
COK 20 (35:2)-FB
SAVSCO 52 (35:5)
COK 20 (35:3)-FB
SAVSCO 52 (35:6 - 37:3)
GSCO 1 (16:5)-FB
SAVSCO 52 (37:4)]
GSCO 1 (16:6)-FB
SAVSCO 52 (37:5 - 43)
[SAVSCO 214]
CO@ 2
[SAVSCO 227/4]
[SAVSCO 205/2]
[SAVSCO 30]
GSCO 1
GSCO 2-FB
GSCO 2
GSCO 3
GSCO 4
SAVSCO 8/5
SAVSCO 10
CO@ 4
CO@ 5 (1 - 26:1)
CO@ 5-FB
CO@ 5 (26:2 - 33)
KCO 5-FB
KCO 6-FB
KCO 7-FB
KCO 8-FB
COK 52-FB
COK 20 (22:2 - 23:4)-FB
COK 20 (21:4)-FB
[SAVSCO 166]
[SAVSCO 167]
[SAVSCO 168]
[SAVSCO 169]
COSAV 4
[SAVSCO 177/3]
KCO 1-FB
KCO 1
KCO 2-FB
KCO 2
KCO 3
KCO 4 (3:6 - 4:2)-FB
KCO 4 (1 - 22)
KCO 4 (30:5 - 31:2)-FB
KCO 4 (23 - 24)
P@ 2/4 (5:5)-FB
KCO 4 (25 - 27)
KCO 4 (33:3)-FB
KCO 4 (28:1 - 28:3)
KCO 4 (33:4)-FB
KCO 4 (28:4 - 33)
P@ 2/4 (5:6)-FB
KCO 5
KCO 6-OP
KCO 7
KCO 8
COK 21/2-FB
COK 22/2-FB
KCO 9
KCO 10
KCO 11
KCO 12
KCO 13
KCO 14
KCO 15
KCO 18-FB
KCO 16
KCO 17
KCO 18
KCO 19
COK 52/2-FB
COK 54/2-FB
COK 27-FB
COK 20
COK 21-FB
COK 22-FB
COK 21
COK 22
COK 23
COK 24-FB
COK 24/2
COK 25
COK 26-FB
COK 26
COK 50-FB
COK 27
COK 28 (1 - 13)
COK 50 (1 - 11)
COK 28 (14 - 38)
COK 50 (14:4 - 38)
COK 51
COK 52
COK 53
COK 53/2
COK 54/2
COK 55
COK 29
COK 30
COK 31
COK 32
COK 33
COK 34
COK 35
COK 36
COK 37
COK 38
COK 39
COK 40
COK 41
COK 42
COK 43
COK 44
COK 45
COK 46
COK 47
COK 48-FB
COK 48
COK 49
CO@ 7-FB
CO@ 7
M/GN:COISLES
COSAV 10

DJEBAL
SAVSCO 5
SAVSCO 6

FALCON/CONSTANTIUS
SAVSCO 5 (6:1)-FB
SAVSCO 5 (6:3)-FB
SAVSCO 5 (1 - 7)
SAVSCO 5 (9:3 - 11:4)-FB
SAVSCO 5 (8 - 55)

*FALCON/CARL BURGESS (renumber to be the second)
DARMC 5/9
……

*FALCON II/SAM WILSON (renumber to be the third)
CA 277/2 (2:4 - 2:9)-FB
……

GOTARZA
SAVSCO 31
SAVSCO 32

KING ARSHAK
SAVSCO 32-BTS

KING KOBAD SHAH
SAVSCO 31
SAVSCO 32-BTS

NANAIA
SAVSCO 31
SAVSCO 32

O’BRIEN, JIM
SAVSCO 6/2-FB
SAVSCO 6/2

PARUSATI
SAVSCO 31
SAVSCO 32

PRINCE YEZDIGERD
……
COB 26
COB 36-FB
COB 36-BTS
SAVSCO 234/2-FB
SAVSCO 232-BTS
SAVSCO 234/2-BTS
SAVSCO 235/2-BTS
*SAVSCO 32-BTS
KCO 5-FB-BTS
KCO 6-FB-BTS
KCO 7-FB

QUEEN TARAMIS
SAVSCO 5 (6:1)-FB
SAVSCO 5 (1 - 42)
SAVSCO 5 (43 - 44:5)-FB
SAVSCO 5 (43 - 55)

SALOME II/”TARAMIS”
SAVSCO 5 (3:6)-FB
SAVSCO 5 (4:7-5:1)-FB
SAVSCO 5 (1-7)
SAVSCO 5 (9:3-11:4)-FB
SAVSCO 5 (8-55)

*SALOME II [DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS] (renumber to be the third)
VENUS 1/2
……

*SALOME III (renumber to be the fourth)
UX 512

TIGER/OLGER VLADISLAV/”YFFAN”
SAVSCO 5
SAVSCO 6
SAVSCO 58/2
SAVSCO 31
SAVSCO 32

*TIGER/LAO-HU (renumber to be the second)
BGROUND 12/4

*TIGER II (renumber to be the third)
WPACK 6

*TIGER III (renumber to be the fourth)
EUR 0/2
……

TUBAL
SAVSCO 31
SAVSCO 32

VIRATA
SAVSCO 31-FB
SAVSCO 31
SAVSCO 32