Summary

Who would ever think that Conan the Barbarian would ever give up.

After fleeing across the desert from their pursuers, there is little comfort in Conan and Natala’s future. The sun beats down on them in the day, and the nights are bone chilling cold. There camel has collapsed and given up the ghost, and the last drop of water has evaporated from their canteen. When Natala has finally collapsed, Conan sees that the only escape from this hell is a quick and clean kill by his sword.

The smallest glimmer of strength is turned into a burning fire of hope when a glimpse of a white city lays before him. He pulls Natala into his arms, changing from her executioner, into her savior. They trek across the last stretch of desert and stand before the white city.

What is more terrifying? A city full of unfamiliar people. Or non at all.

As they walk through the empty courtyard, they come across a dead body, copious idols, statues, and a well that can quench their thirst. Turns out the city isn’t dead, and neither is the body they passed, as it leaps to attack Conan, who quickly beheads it. He shoves it into the well, stating that if they can’t drink from it, then no one can.

They step into the citadel before them, hearing their steps echo through the empty halls. While they see signs of life, a table laden with a magnificent feast makes their instinct take over, consuming all that lay before them. They explore further and come across a man who slowly becomes consumed by a shadow. After he reappears. he rejoices, for his illusions have laid before him in the gorgeous body of Natala. Conan stand before him, pushing this mysterious man aside, striking fear into him when he realizes that Conan and Natala are not the illusions he seems to be used to. He flees, screaming in fear, while Natala wishes to return to the desert. This city is no longer their salvation, but the entrance to hell itself

Review

I don’t think it would be possibly for me to passed up on the comic adaptation of this story after watching the 1980 film. While I know those stories aren’t the same, the film introduced me to this barbarian that has got their claws in me and all I want to know is more about him. I find it incredible that this issue is able to take the concept of a huge, burly barbarian who speaks very little, and gives him the depth of characters that speak in soliloquys. We are being introduced to a man who has a code, who has that push to survive, and is confidant in the life that he wants to live. This story brings us from the harsh desert and the mercy that Conan was about to bestow on Natala, to a mysterious city that feels more terrifying then any endless wasteland. The artwork adds so much texture to the desert, yet it shows the beauty and smoothness of the city. It truly shows the daunting and powerful man that Conan is that exudes fear into all of his enemies. I absolutely loved this issue and I am really thrilled to cover the next one when it comes out.

The Moments

I’m no artist, but I assume it can be a daunting task to takes something as static as a desert, and make it interesting. Steven Stubic took this desert and gave it character, texture, and made it fearful. While he is able to show off the vast emptiness of this ocean of death, he also adds depth through the swirling mounds of sand, and even morphs them into the shapes of vultures and other birds of prey. I think this emphasizes the danger that Conan and Natala are in, but that hope destroying feeling as we watch them suffer.

This was the most striking set of panels in this issue for him. This city is a glimpse of hope for them when they finally stand before it. As they enter the city and we witness the horrors and terror within, we get another glimpse of it at sunset, and we see that the city now resembles the jaws of a terrifying beast. The Jaws of Hell. It’s such a striking image and sort of confirms that dread that has been building ever since they stepped through the threshold.

We see a lot of motifs in regards to mirrors throughout the city. The floors of these empty rooms reflect the many different idols of worship. The city itself was described as smooth and reflective. The mirror placed above the feast. While it doesn’t seem to be fleshed out in this issue, I think this is going to be a theme going forward. It could be an object that will make Conan look inwards on himself or maybe we will see a different side of Conan - the fearful side, the less confident, the one that doesn’t know what he wants out of life. Either way, I’m excited to see if this motif will continue going forward.