The Savage Sword Of Conan – Volume 01 Issue 15

My Rating

“The Exchange”

Chains and a darkened ship’s hold are all that stand between Conan of Cimmeria and freedom. Captain Brock and his crew have packed the vessel with prisoners, including Tadia Brazoria and Anker, believing iron shackles will keep their valuable cargo under control. They have made one serious mistake. Among the captives sits a barbarian who has spent a lifetime proving that chains are little more than a temporary inconvenience.

When Rodak ventures below to check on the prisoners, Conan sees his opportunity. The Cimmerian breaks free and turns the cramped hold into a slaughterhouse. Rodak falls first. Graigg soon follows, losing his head before he can put down the uprising. With blood on the deck and steel finally in his hands, Conan unleashes the other prisoners. Captain Brock’s profitable voyage has suddenly become a fight for survival.

Now the exchange is complete. The captives have become the captors, and the men who once held Conan’s life in their hands must answer to the barbarian himself. Can Captain Brock regain control of his vessel? What fate awaits Tadia Brazoria and Anker? And how much blood will Conan spill before his freedom is finally secured? Grab your sword, turn the page, and find out!

“The Ghost Kings”

The Ghost Kings are on the march,

In the dark, beneath the moonlight arch.

Witch-light ebbs and flows,

Cold and pale across the snows.

Death awaits those who draw close,

Who dares to gaze upon the host.

Through the night their shadows swing—

Hark! The march of the Ghost Kings.

“Two-Ton Terror”

Pap is awful angry at da’ mess my brothers made of our cabin. When kin are hankerin’ for ba’r steak, sometimes a good ol’ brawl is the only thang takin’ our minds off rumblin’ bellies. Now, if that ain’t enough, Pap wants turtle stew.

Well, there is only one place to hunt those snappers. Misery Swamp! I dun have to be careful. That’s the home of that shelled menace, a prehistoric beast known as da Two-Ton Terror. All right, Pap. I’m a headin’ out.

Review

I really hate to harp on Titan Comics since, in my opinion, their books and magazines have consistently outshined every top publisher in the comic book industry. Unfortunately, there was something oddly wrong with “The Exchange” storyline. I realize Zub and Thomas are unable to write every story for the fans, but this one simply didn’t have the sword-and-sorcery vibe I expect from The Savage Sword of Conan. The story wasn’t necessarily bad—it just didn’t feel like Conan.

Thankfully, the rest of issue #15 more than made up for it. Robert E. Howard’s haunting poem “The Ghost Kings” was a fantastic addition to the magazine and brought some much-needed Hyborian atmosphere back into the mix. DeFalco’s “Two-Ton Terror” was another highlight. The story was fast, fun, and wonderfully over-the-top—the kind of pulpy entertainment that belongs between the covers of Savage Sword.

Not every blade strikes true, and “The Exchange” missed the mark for me. However, “The Ghost Kings” and “Two-Ton Terror” were enough to keep issue #15 from sinking beneath the weight of its opening story. Titan Comics has set an incredibly high bar with The Savage Sword of Conan. Maybe that’s why the occasional misfire stands out so much.

This is a three-star book whittled down from a four.