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The Savage Sword of Conan
The Savage Sword of Conan, Volume 4
Editing and charting Conan's course in the influential Savage Sword of Conan magazine, Roy Thomas led a phenomenal assemblage of talented illustrators boldly through the end of the seventies and into the eighties, unfettered by page counts and the limiting thumb of the Comics Code. Thomas scripted the continuing adventures of Conan, drawing from Robert E. Howard's original tales - along with other Conan adventures - and working with such esteemed artists as John Buscema, Sal Buscema, Ernie Colon, Klaus Janson, and the amazing Gil Kane! The Savage Sword of Conan brought the world thrilling adaptations of "Sons of the White Wolf," "The Legions of the Dead," and "The Treasure of Tranicos."
500 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
9 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Roy Thomas
4,478 books271 followersRoy Thomas was the FIRST Editor-in-Chief at Marvel--After Stan Lee stepped down from the position. Roy is a longtime comic book writer and editor. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic Publishing, Marvel, and Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits the fanzine Alter Ego for Twomorrow's Publishing. He was Editor for Marvel comics from 1972-1974. He wrote for several titles at Marvel, such as Avengers, Thor, Invaders, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and notably Conan the Barbarian. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 17, 2014
I should create a new shelf for 'guilty pleasure' or 'getting in touch with my 12 y.o. self'. The Savage Sword of Conan belongs in this category and I believe the covers explain why better than words:
The originals by Robert E Howard are better written, yet I enjoy the lurid prose of Roy Thomas and the artwork of John Buscema and Justin Alcala, and I guess I will continue to read the series, as long as the creative team behind the comic maintains the level of quality that I have seen in the first almost 50 issues. About this fourth album, I liked in particular the fact that it contains at least three longer story arcs spread over 3 or more individual issues that allow for better characters and more complex plots. Conan the Buccaneer may be the best story in the series so far. I also enjoyed the fill-in articles and the occasional Solomon Kane and Red Sonja guest star appearances.
The originals by Robert E Howard are better written, yet I enjoy the lurid prose of Roy Thomas and the artwork of John Buscema and Justin Alcala, and I guess I will continue to read the series, as long as the creative team behind the comic maintains the level of quality that I have seen in the first almost 50 issues. About this fourth album, I liked in particular the fact that it contains at least three longer story arcs spread over 3 or more individual issues that allow for better characters and more complex plots. Conan the Buccaneer may be the best story in the series so far. I also enjoyed the fill-in articles and the occasional Solomon Kane and Red Sonja guest star appearances.
March 19, 2018
The Savage Sword of Conan and the Marvel Star Wars comics were my two favorite comics as a child. Volume 4 continues with the run of Roy Thomas as writer. John Buscema, Gil Kane and Ernie Chan carry most of the artwork.
The bulk of the stories in volume 4 are adaptations of the Lancer/Ace pastiche by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. The novel Conan the Buccaneer takes up four chapters and The Treasure of Tranicos takes the last two chapters of the book.
Treasure of Tranicos is interesting for its history. It was a Conan tale originally titled “The Black Stranger”. Weird Tales rejected it, so REH rewrote it as a historical fiction piece and retitled it “Swords of the Red Brotherhood”. Later, de Camp would rewrite it to form a tie into the history he and others were building for Conan. The short story was not published in its original form until Karl Edward Wagner published it in the anthology series Echoes of Valor.
I’ve encountered every story in this volume in one format or another, but it did put me in a mood to dig up my Ace paperback collection.
As to the stories, they are all adaptions of pastiche. Even the two stories that were written (originally) by Howard are adaptations of doctored up bits. It gives the feeling of reading a copy of a copy.
These are a solid part of my childhood and I enjoy them for nostalgia. I will read the next two volumes for sure, as they are the last two collections of the time Roy Thomas was solidly in command; however, I am in no hurry to do so and read them leisurely as they become available in my public library.
The bulk of the stories in volume 4 are adaptations of the Lancer/Ace pastiche by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. The novel Conan the Buccaneer takes up four chapters and The Treasure of Tranicos takes the last two chapters of the book.
Treasure of Tranicos is interesting for its history. It was a Conan tale originally titled “The Black Stranger”. Weird Tales rejected it, so REH rewrote it as a historical fiction piece and retitled it “Swords of the Red Brotherhood”. Later, de Camp would rewrite it to form a tie into the history he and others were building for Conan. The short story was not published in its original form until Karl Edward Wagner published it in the anthology series Echoes of Valor.
I’ve encountered every story in this volume in one format or another, but it did put me in a mood to dig up my Ace paperback collection.
As to the stories, they are all adaptions of pastiche. Even the two stories that were written (originally) by Howard are adaptations of doctored up bits. It gives the feeling of reading a copy of a copy.
These are a solid part of my childhood and I enjoy them for nostalgia. I will read the next two volumes for sure, as they are the last two collections of the time Roy Thomas was solidly in command; however, I am in no hurry to do so and read them leisurely as they become available in my public library.
February 24, 2013
Aufhören, wenns am besten ist
Nach der Lektüre dieses Bands kam mir ein Gedanke, den ich nie für möglich gehalten hatte: Jetzt reichts mir aber für eine Weile mit Buscema. Solch unglaubliche häretische Ideen über einen der größten Comickünstler aller Zeiten? Ja, denn die guten Zeiten von "Savage Sword" sind hier definitiv vorbei. Irgendwie wirkt das ganze sehr generisch, uninspiriert, von der Stange. Kaum mehr einer der Momente, die in den früheren Ausgaben zuhauf vorkamen, in denen man sabberte ob der Atmosphäre, die Buscema beispielsweise zusammen mit Alfredo Alcala oder Ernie Chan erzeugte. Ich habe den Verdacht, dass "Big John" hier nur noch die gröbsten Breakdowns machte und den Rest den diversen Inkern und Embellishern wie Tony Dezuniga überließ. Aber auch Gil Kane, der den ersten Teil von "Treasure of Tranicos" beisteuert, bleibt extremst unter seinen Möglichkeiten. Roy Thomas' phrasendreschender, worthülsenreicher Stil, der auch noch dem kleinsten Panel ein Textkästchen aufkleben muss, gibt dem Ganzen den Rest.
Die immer wieder eingestreuten ganzseitigen Einzelbilder triefen vor dem typischen Conan-Kitsch, wie er auf einem Berg Schädel steht und/oder die Axt hochhält und/oder das nackige Weib an seiner Seite kniet und das ganze restliche Gedöns. Wie oft kann man denn so eine Szene dritt- und viertklassig wiederkäuen?
Großartig dagegen: Die Cover von Earl Norem. Auch wenn sie nur in Schwarzweiß abgedruckt sind, bekommt man bei ihnen doch einen Eindruck dessen, was Conan ausmacht.
Gesammelt sind in diesem 4. Band die "Savage Sword of Conan"-Ausgaben 37-48. Aufmachung ist natürlich identisch zu den anderen, bereits erschienenen Telefonbüchern, allerdings mit etwas dickerem, nicht so durchscheinendem Papier. Da ich Band 5 auch schon im Regal habe, werde ich den wohl noch lesen - aber so richtig freuen darauf tu ich mich nicht. Schade, die hervorragenden Bände 1 und 2 hatten einem den Mund schon sehr wässrig gemacht.
Nach der Lektüre dieses Bands kam mir ein Gedanke, den ich nie für möglich gehalten hatte: Jetzt reichts mir aber für eine Weile mit Buscema. Solch unglaubliche häretische Ideen über einen der größten Comickünstler aller Zeiten? Ja, denn die guten Zeiten von "Savage Sword" sind hier definitiv vorbei. Irgendwie wirkt das ganze sehr generisch, uninspiriert, von der Stange. Kaum mehr einer der Momente, die in den früheren Ausgaben zuhauf vorkamen, in denen man sabberte ob der Atmosphäre, die Buscema beispielsweise zusammen mit Alfredo Alcala oder Ernie Chan erzeugte. Ich habe den Verdacht, dass "Big John" hier nur noch die gröbsten Breakdowns machte und den Rest den diversen Inkern und Embellishern wie Tony Dezuniga überließ. Aber auch Gil Kane, der den ersten Teil von "Treasure of Tranicos" beisteuert, bleibt extremst unter seinen Möglichkeiten. Roy Thomas' phrasendreschender, worthülsenreicher Stil, der auch noch dem kleinsten Panel ein Textkästchen aufkleben muss, gibt dem Ganzen den Rest.
Die immer wieder eingestreuten ganzseitigen Einzelbilder triefen vor dem typischen Conan-Kitsch, wie er auf einem Berg Schädel steht und/oder die Axt hochhält und/oder das nackige Weib an seiner Seite kniet und das ganze restliche Gedöns. Wie oft kann man denn so eine Szene dritt- und viertklassig wiederkäuen?
Großartig dagegen: Die Cover von Earl Norem. Auch wenn sie nur in Schwarzweiß abgedruckt sind, bekommt man bei ihnen doch einen Eindruck dessen, was Conan ausmacht.
Gesammelt sind in diesem 4. Band die "Savage Sword of Conan"-Ausgaben 37-48. Aufmachung ist natürlich identisch zu den anderen, bereits erschienenen Telefonbüchern, allerdings mit etwas dickerem, nicht so durchscheinendem Papier. Da ich Band 5 auch schon im Regal habe, werde ich den wohl noch lesen - aber so richtig freuen darauf tu ich mich nicht. Schade, die hervorragenden Bände 1 und 2 hatten einem den Mund schon sehr wässrig gemacht.
July 27, 2021
This was a great volume. It's amazing that back in the 70s and 80s this came out monthly, as each issue was basically a high quality graphic novel. The art started to get a little racier with some more nudity although still fairly mild. The stories are complex but in a good way, and the art is mostly John Buscema with various inkers and it couldn't fit the stories better. This volume includes an adaptation of the novel CONAN THE BUCCANEER as well as the TREASURE OF TRANICOS and more. Some loose ends are picked up and the continuity is really surprisingly tight.
I'm a huge fan of the Savage Sword series as I think that's really where the best Conan material appears so I'm really happy to be able to read the series through the reprint series. My one complaint is that we only get the Conan stories and not the back ups, as there were some really cool back up stories in this series as well.
I'm a huge fan of the Savage Sword series as I think that's really where the best Conan material appears so I'm really happy to be able to read the series through the reprint series. My one complaint is that we only get the Conan stories and not the back ups, as there were some really cool back up stories in this series as well.
July 6, 2021
Less impressive than previous volumes; the art is more variable and the use of the De Camp/Carter stories further weakens the content. There's a subtle but noticeable difference in tone and content in the non-Howard stories, and the women seem to have less to do (when they're present at all).
March 30, 2019
Hack and slay, hack and slay.
September 7, 2019
Another great run of classic Savage Sword reprints. Can't wait for the next one.
May 6, 2020
Incredible. Fantastic language, mind blowing dialogues, lovely artwork too. ! Incredible storylines
October 23, 2013
Forth collection of the black and white Marvel Conan comics from the 70s and 80s that were written and drawn for a more mature audience than the regular Conan comics at the time. In other words: a bit more violence, some small nudity.
The centre piece is the multi-part adaptation of CONAN THE BUCCANEER.
At the current speed (one Conan album/year), it'll be another decade before I am finished with that comic saga. No harm.....
The centre piece is the multi-part adaptation of CONAN THE BUCCANEER.
At the current speed (one Conan album/year), it'll be another decade before I am finished with that comic saga. No harm.....
June 24, 2014
This volume includes the great story arc "Dream of Blood" that runs for 170 pages and never fails to excite a bit. There is also the "Treasure of Tranicos" where Conan finally gets lucky on treasures and starts his march towards kingship. In my opinion, Conan is the only hero to map out a successful carrier plan for himself and execute it. He never once doubts his vision. In that sense, a good role model for ambitious young men. :)
June 17, 2012
Classic Black and White Conan tales from the 70's originally published in Marvel Comics legendary "Savage sword of Conan" B&W monthly magazine. Loved this stuff!
July 6, 2014
Great series
This is fun stuff with great writing and very good ink work. If you are a fan of Conan you will enjoy this series.
This is fun stuff with great writing and very good ink work. If you are a fan of Conan you will enjoy this series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews