Description

Conan The Barbarian: Volume 2                             Paperback
Featuring Robert E. Howard Comic Adaptations.  Awesome!!
Cover by: Barry Windsor-Smith

Know, O prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an Age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars – Nemedia, Ophir, Brythunia, Hyperborea, Zamora with its dark-haired women and towers of spider-haunted mystery, Zingara with its chivalry, Koth that bordered on the pastoral lands of Shem, Stygia with its shadow-guarded tombs, Hyrkania whose riders wore steel and silk and gold. But the proudest kingdom of the world was Aquilonia, reigning supreme in the dreaming west. Hither came Conan the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet.

Conan The Barbarian – Volume 2 Paperback contains:

Introduction by Roy Thomas
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The Hyborian Age of Conan Map
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“The Tower of the Elephant”
Adapted from the story by: Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan.
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith
Inker: Sal Buscema
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee

A slaver, boasting of his recent acquisition, catches the attention of Conan when he mentions a jewel secreted in the Tower of the Elephant. The rogue mocks Conan’s interest in the impossible to obtain gem, which is never a smart thing to do. Leaving the Kothian’s body behind, Conan approaches the gated Tower and observes Yara, the Tower’s mysterious occupant enter. Conan does not notice the priest’s feet do not touch the ground. Conan scales the wall and discovers another thief, Taurus, also in the courtyard. Taurus uses a gas to slay some guard lions and the two thieves climb to the top of the Tower. Taurus, attempting to leave Conan, behind sneaks into a door, but immediately falls out dead. Conan warily enters the room, discovers it filled with treasure, but also encounters the room’s guardian, a giant poisonous spider. Conan defeats the monster and descends into a lower chamber where he encounters a green humanoid creature with an elephantine head. The lonely, blind creature introduces itself as Yag-Kosha and explains to a terrified Conan his alien nature and capture by Yara. The fabled gem, the Heart of the Elephant, is what keeps Yag-Kosha captive and Yara all-powerful. He begs Conan to kill him, which Conan does. Conan then takes the gem to a sleeping Yara, who is mystically swallowed by the gem. Conan can see a fully healed and powerful Yag-Kosha inside the gem take his final revenge on his captor. With its occupant’s death, the Tower begins to crumble, and Conan flees just in time to see it collapse into a pile of shards.

Reprints/collects: Conan The Barbarian (1970) Issue #4.  Marvel Comics
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“Zukala’s Daughter”
Story inspired by the poem “Zukala’s Hour” written by: Robert E. Howard
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Editor: Stan Lee

Traveling through a remote Zamorian village while returning to Shadizar, Conan ends up in the middle of a sorcerer’s tax collecting scam. The village has not paid its 40 pieces of gold, so the sorcerer sends a demon-tiger to collect. Conan battles, and loses against, the tiger, but it decides not to kill the barbarian and slinks off, changing into its true shape, a beautiful woman. The townsfolk tell Conan that she is the daughter of the sorcerer, Zukala. The girl, Zephra, returns to her father but for some reason is so pale and sickly she falls into her father’s arms. Meanwhile, Conan agrees to slay the sorcerer in return for a sword that had caught his eye. Conan sneaks into Zukala’s fortress and watches as the sorcerer summons a demon, Jagta-Noga, to punish the villagers. Conan is discovered by Zephra, and explains her odd behavior — she saw a vision of her fated to love Conan, and Conan standing over her dead body. The two are interrupted by Zukala, who runs off when Conan shatters his mask, the source of his power. Enough of the mask remains for a few magical tricks, however, and commands his daughter to turn into the tigress and slay the Cimmerian. She refuses, however, but Jaggta-Noga returns to defend the wizard. Zephra leaps between demon and barbarian. Zephra is dealt a near-killing blow, and, horrified, Zukala sends the demon away. Zukala vanishes with his daughter, who, while still alive, is no longer as loyal to her father as she had been, and this saddens the sorcerer more than anything else. Conan takes the gold left behind, decides it’s payment enough, and continues to Shadizar.

Reprints/collects: Conan The Barbarian (1970) Issue #5.  Marvel Comics
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“Devil-Wings Over Shadizar”
Inspired by and continuing the adventures of the hero created by: Robert E. Howard
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith
Inker: Sal Buscema
Letterer: Mike Stevens
Editor: Stan Lee

Conan, seeking his fortune in Shadizar, encounters two thieves, Fafnir and Blackrat, arguing over booty. Conan decides to take the treasure himself and quickly takes care of the two incompetent thieves. He enters a bar and strikes up a conversation with a local wench, Jenna. Conan narrowly avoids yet another bar fight and leaves with Jenna, who has more or less attached herself to the barbarian – or perhaps the surprising amount of gold in his purse. She takes Conan to her uncle, Maldiz, a blacksmith, so he may melt down Conan’s suspicious-looking gold coins into a new shape. Word has spread about the earlier robbery, and both Jenna and Maldiz put two and two together. With his now untraceable gold in his purse, Conan takes a moment to enjoy Jenna’s company under a palm tree, but that moment is quickly ended when he is knocked unconscious from behind by a trio of red-robed men. Curiously, they take only the girl, and leave the gold behind. Conan seeks help from Maldiz, who recognizes Conan’s description of the men, and declares Jenna lost. The men are followers of the Night-God, who sacrifice a young girl every month to their evil lord. Conan heads towards their temple, steals a robe, and enters the evil cult’s lair. He arrives just as the Night-God’s priestess, Hajii, completes her prayer, and puts out the brazier, plunging the open-roofed temple into darkness. Conan takes the opportunity to sneak to Jenna, but discovers the secret of the Night-God, it is a giant bat-like creature who swoops in to devour its sacrifice. It grabs Jenna in its talons, but Conan leaps upon the monster’s back. Hajii manages to grab Conan and all are flown into the skies. Conan thrusts his torch repeatedly into the beast’s eyes and body, while Hajii desperately tries to stop the barbarian from slaying her god. Conan is victorious, and the monster plunges to the ground, disorienting Conan long enough for Hajii to pull a dagger and strike in vengeance. Luckily, the priestess forgot about Jenna, who knocks Hajii out with the brazier before Conan can be killed. However, when Conan wakes, he discovers Jenna and the gold long gone.

Reprints/collects: Conan The Barbarian (1970) Issue #6. Marvel Comics
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Paperback reprints/collects: Conan The Barbarian (1970) Issues #4,5,6.  Marvel Comics

Paperback is bagged and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Edition
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Publication Date: 1978
Format: FC, 160 pages, Paperback, 7″ x 4.5″
ISBN-10: 0441116930
ISBN-13: 9780441116935

Collectible Entertainment note: Paperback is in Very Good condition. (wear) Overall… Nice!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Conan, Barry Windsor-Smith, and/or Robert E. Howard collector / enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Highly Recommended.

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