POBB September 1, 2020

Pick of the Brown Bag

September 1, 2020

by

Ray Tate

Created in 1932 by Robert E. Howard for the quintessential pulp anthology Weird Tales, Conan the Barbarian became one of the most influential characters of the modern era.  Without Conan, the genre of sword and sorcery would not exist.  He is the inspiration for every bare chested dude wielding a blade, fighting in magical realms.  Usually, with a nubile woman clutching his leg.

Conan eventually became the subject of movies, animation and a television series.  In 1970, Roy Thomas brought Conan to Marvel Comics where he stayed until the millennium.  Marvel recently reacquired the rights to publish Conan, and the Powers That Be perhaps inspired by a classic issue of What If? transported Conan to the now.  

Conan first arrived scowling in Vegas and cursing the wizard Kulan Gath for the unexpected teleportation.  I don't know if his old enemy Gath is the culprit.  It certainly fits his m.o.  However, there's more at work here than mere hocus-pocus.

Conan in the Savage Avengers annual, fought alongside  Damien Hellstrom, who usurped Mephisto's rule of Hell.  I doubt it's a coincidence that Mephisto inveigles himself in Conan's life.

Back in Vegas, Conan meets Nyla, a thief.  Together they set up the heist of the Inferno Hotel.  Unexpectedly, they cross paths with the Black Cat.  Hijinks ensue, and the duo end up with a magical ring that transports them to Wakanda.  All part of the plan.

The fellow wearing Tron is Imus Champion, an obscure Avengers villain.  Don't worry about him.  He's not important.  Mephisto promised Champion that he would be "the most powerful man in the world," which means he's soon to be dog meat.  The ring is the thing that demands attention.

Gosh, that was neat, and it's the kind of event you frequently come to be surprised by in Weird Tales.  The twist allows artists Luke Ross and Nolan Woodward the chance to strut their stuff.

To be fair, you may be asking where's the Serpent Crown.  You're getting a ring.  The story winds you to the discovery of a scepter.  You were promised a Serpent Crown.  I'm sure the 1970s object of power is around here somewhere, but for right now, you just need to sit back and relax for a backdoor Marvel Team-Up book.  In this issue, Conan meets the Black Panther.

This encounter is so entertaining.  On a gut level, it pits possibly the finest natural warrior in the history of literature against a unique royal super-hero who combines fighting prowess with technological savvy.  On another level, the pithy dialogue suits the combatants.  On a third level, Black Panther and Conan exist within the same context.  They are not of modern civilization.  They understand each other instinctually.

I can almost believe that writer Saladin Ahmed imagined this scene first and then built a story around it.  One helluva a story.