Conan The Barbarian – Volume 01 Issue 10

My Rating

“Beware the Wrath of Anu!”

The stench of the Corinthian city-state soured Conan’s nose as the sights and sounds triggered his Cimmerian instincts. He wished for nothing more than to retreat through the very gates that he and the girl Jenna had just traversed. By Crom, no free man should endure the urban strife of filthy streets, overpopulation, and blatant corruption, which surely trickled down from the local magistrate. And the city guards called him a savage?! Jenna nudged him in the ribs, redirecting his attention toward the two guards blocking their entry into the city.

The Corinthian sentinels were not buying his story of being a humble fur trapper. Jenna urged the two men to allow them entry, but her sweet tones soon turned to anger. Conan had come to know the ways of women. They all seemed to puff up like Turanian crows whenever an able-bodied man stood nearby to suffer the repercussions of their banter. The Cimmerian had no intention of playing her games. Nor those of the two guardsmen, for that matter. Yet, before this pointless interrogation could turn bloody, a voice called out from the crowd behind them.

A captain of the local guard raced past Conan in a full sprint, shouting orders to his two men. He had spotted a band of thieves scrambling across the rooftops nearby. The guards were to abandon their posts and join the pursuit at once. Was this Conan and Jenna’s big break? Had the gods finally smiled upon the wandering Cimmerian?

Conan looked upward toward the men sprinting across the loose tile shingles. One of them, a strong Gunderman with fiery red hair, looked strangely familiar. The barbarian narrowed his eyes, studying the fleeing rogue. He knew that face! But from where?

Then recognition struck him like a hammer.

Conan’s jaw dropped.

HIM!

“Men of the Shadows”

The road to Camelot has always been a just and free one. ‘Tis what Sir Percy had understood until a heavy oak staff swung across his chest, knocking him from his horse. Now, a large Englishman named Big Tim and his band of forest men stood over the fallen knight, leering. What was the meaning of this unprovoked attack?

“The unfair taxes of King Arthur Pendragon!”

The local denizens had suffered greatly under the burden of excessive taxation and the cruel justice handed down by the local sheriff, Sir Joshua Costain. Many had lost their homes and livelihoods, while others sought refuge within the surrounding forests. Had the noble King Arthur truly forsaken his people, or was something more sinister at work within the kingdom?

Whatever the truth, Sir Percy could not ignore the plight of these unfortunate souls. Such injustice demanded more than the sympathies of a noble knight. It required the swift intervention of a champion willing to stand against tyranny!

This looks like an errand for the Black Knight!

To thy horse, and ride!

“The King and the Oak”

Kull rides into the night, but he is not alone. Beneath the ancient branches of a mighty oak, the King of Valusia encounters a mysterious presence that challenges his courage and resolve. What secrets lie within the shadows of this ancient tree? And what strange forces dare confront the mighty Atlantean?

This is a tale of dark fantasy, ancient mysteries, and supernatural wonder, set to poetry by the great one himself, Robert E. Howard.

Review

Young Conan was in wonderful hands with Roy Thomas behind the pen and the great Stan Lee overseeing the editorial duties. It’s mind-boggling to me that Thomas is still writing stories for Conan comic books as of 2026. He was only 30 years old when this issue hit the newsstands in 1971. What a hell of a career! Few comic book writers can boast such a long and celebrated association with a single character.

The star of this issue was undoubtedly the Bull of Anu. Even the mighty Cimmerian had to put on his thinking cap to defeat this monstrous beast. Brute strength alone wasn’t going to win the day! I also found myself wondering what might have happened had Burgan survived. Would Conan have settled for a life of thievery alongside his newfound companion? Nah, probably not. The wandering barbarian was never one to remain in the same profession for long. Besides, Crom would not have it!

Story two is a reprint of an older Atlas Comics adventure featuring “The Black Knight.” I wasn’t opposed to its inclusion and found the medieval tale entertaining enough. However, it’s clearly not a Robert E. Howard character, nor does the story have any connection to his literary creations. While I appreciate the opportunity to revisit an older Marvel-era adventure, I would have favored something from Howard’s extensive archive of work instead. There certainly wasn’t a shortage of material to choose from!

Finally, we are treated to an illustrated version of Robert E. Howard’s poem “The King and the Oak,” featuring Kull and his supernatural confrontation with nature. I loved how the editors broke up the poetry to match the accompanying artwork. The combination of Howard’s haunting words and the illustrated panels brought a wonderful sense of atmosphere to the presentation. What fun this was! It’s these little additions that make the early Marvel Conan comic books such a pleasure to revisit.

Overall…

Overall, Conan the Barbarian No. 10 delivers another entertaining chapter in the young Cimmerian’s adventures. Roy Thomas continues to impress me with his interpretation of Howard’s legendary barbarian, while the additional features offer a little something different. The Black Knight reprint wasn’t my first choice, but the main adventure and Kull’s poetic encounter more than made up for it.

Four out of five stars! I can’t wait to read the next issue.