View allAll Photos Tagged swordandsorcery

I've been meaning to post this shot of Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer. It makes for a good evil warrior. I haven't read the comic series, but I'm not sure I have much interest in it.

1968 PBO; Sword of the Dawn by Michael Moorcock. Cover art by Jack Faragasso. Published by Lancer Books

Ace 76094. January 1, 1970. Cover art by Frank Kelly Freas.

“—Being, at last, the True Account of the Calamitous Destruction of the Great Island Kingdom, Together with a Narrative of Its Wondrous Intercourses with a Superior Race of Other-Worldlings, as Transcribed from the Manuscript of a Survivor, Hoptor the Vintner, for the Enlightenment of a Dubious Posterity – “ [Subtitle]

 

“The continent of Atlantis had troubles enough before Conax the Barbarian washed ashore. For Hoptor the Vintner, who considered himself a citizen of importance, things were going from bad to worse. The king was on his last legs, his generals were plotting, there were those scary lights in the sky, and Hoptor’s favorite girl was being put up for auction on the slave block.

 

“Then Conax, the self-styled king of Chimeria – a place nobody ever heard of – turned up at the auction with his broadsword, his barbaric manners, and his hair-trigger temper. That was the last straw. From then on Atlantis was doomed!

 

“John Jakes, author of Brak the Barbarian and many fast-moving novels of past and future, has written an uproarious cliffhanger that even Robert E. Howard would have approved . . . not to mention his legion of readers.” [From the back cover]

 

This novel by Jakes is a parody of the sword-and-sorcery genre, particularly of “Conan the Barbarian.” It’s a farcical tale about the destruction of Atlantis, as told by an accomplished pimp and con-man, Hoptor the Vintner. The character Conax the Barbarian is described as a “brainless hunk,” a “none-too-bright, broadsword-wielding barbarian chieftan,” whose arrival causes chaos.

 

The story combines heroic fantasy elements with ancient astronaut theories, including visiting aliens from the world of Zorop and flying saucers, all contributing to the comedic nature of the novel.

 

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John Jakes (1932-2023) was an American writer famous for both his historical fiction and his earlier works in fantasy and science fiction. He authored 18 consecutive “New York Times” bestsellers and is best known for his epic family sagas that integrate fictional characters with real American history. His style of writing led the “Los Angeles Times” to call him “the godfather of historical novelists.”

 

Among his best-known works are “The Kent Family Chronicles” (1974-1979), covering a period just before the Revolutionary War through 1890, written to commemorate the American Bicentennial; “The North and South Trilogy” (1982-1987), about the American Civil War that sold millions of copies and was adapted into a popular ABC-TV miniseries; and “The Crown Family Saga (1993-1998), American history in the early 20th century, nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

 

In addition to his novels, Jakes also wrote a widely-produced stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

 

[Note: We really can’t tell a book by its cover, nor can we pigeonhole the author.]

 

1975; The Deathworms of Kratos - The Expendables - by Richard Avery. Cover art by Ken W. Kelly.

1950; Minions of the Moon by William Gray Beyer. Cover art by Edd Cartier.

mperial Sentry by Savage Crucible

 

Thanks to the Savage Crucible team for the chance to get one of these early. I appreciate the opportunity to share your creations through my photography.

Conan the King / Heft-Reihe

The Spoils of Victory

cover: Mike Docherty

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1988

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/97496/

Conan The Barbarian / Heft-Reihe

Devil-Wings over Shadizar

art: Barry Windsor-Smith, Sal Buscema

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1971

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/24296/

1976; Chieftain of Andor by Andrew J. Offutt. Artist uncredited.

Marvel Feature / Heft-Reihe

Presents Red Sonja

> Balek Lives! (art: Frank Thorne)

cover: Frank Thorne

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1976

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/29655/

This vintage Goldstar small-box release of "She" (1985) goes under the (rough) Korean title "Woman of Legend" and name checks star Sandahl Bergman's "Conan the Barbarian" acting chops. Very rare tape.

With Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan, and Sandahl Bergman as Valeria featured on the cover.

 

From the back cover:

 

Out of a Dark Age Undreamed of Comes the Greatest Warrior of All Time

He is Conan. The fate of kingdoms balances on his bloody blade. The story begins as the young Conan witnesses the brutal slaying of his parents by Thulsa Doom, chief of the evil Snake Cult. Pressed into slavery, Conan grows to manhood, trained as a master swordsman and gladiator. Freed from his captors through a twist of fate, he sets out on the long dangerous journey to avenge the deaths of those he loved. To become the fabulous hero, Conan.

 

It is a landscape of primordial twilight . . . a world of wizards and jeweled treasures . . . of fantastic monsters and savage warriors. And there is only one Conan. Thief, Warrior. Barbarian. King.

 

Based on a Screenplay by John Milius and Oliver Stone.

1982; Red Sonja Endithor's Daughter by David C. Smith and Richard L. Tierney. Cover art by Boris Vallejo.

1977; The Last Celt by Glenn Lord. A Bio-Bibliography of Robert E. Howard the Creator of Conan. Cover art by Ken W. Kelly.

Warlord / Heft-Reihe

The Return of the Gladiator

cover: Mike Grell

DC Comics / USA 1980

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/34037/

Dec 1975 PBO; The Incredible adventures of Dennis Dorgan by Robert E. Howard. Cover art by Jeff Jones.

Conan The Barbarian Movie Special / limited series

cover: John Buscema

Reprints from from Marvel Super Special (Marvel, 1978 series) #21 (Summer 1982)

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1982

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/97470/

Conan The Barbarian / Heft-Reihe

The Sorceress of the Swamp!

Cover: John Buscema, Ernie Chan

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1978

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/31863/

Kull, The Conqueror / Heft-Reihe

The Lurker beneath the Earth!

cover: John Severin

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1973

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/25837/

1983; Red Sonja Star of Doom by David C. Smith and Richard L. Tierney. Cover art by Boris Vallejo.

Conan The Barbarian Movie Special / limited series

cover: John Buscema

Reprints from Marvel Super Special (Marvel, 1978 series) #21 (Summer 1982)

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1982

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/36745/

 

1982; Red Sonja Demon Night by David C. Smith & Richard L. Tierney. Cover art by Boris Vallejo.

1976 1st Print; The Reavers of Skaith - Volume 3 further adventures of Eric John Stark. Cover art by Jim Steranko.

Kull, The Destroyer / Heft-Reihe

The Creature and the Crown!

Cover: Ernie Chan

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1978

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/32519/

Conan the Barbarian / Heft-Reihe

Vengeance in Asgalun!

Cover: Gil Kane, Ernie Chan

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1977

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/30848/

Kull, The Destroyer / Heft-Reihe

Moon of Blood!

Cover: Michael Ploog, John Romita

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1974

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/27174/

From the back cover:

 

"The Triple-Bladed Dagger whose three double-edged blades sprang from but one hilt had come to mean instant death to any man who got in its way. The search for this scourge leads El Borak to Ghulistan -- the land of ghouls -- an evil region of black crags and wild gorges, shunned by wise men. It seemed uninhabited, yet men dwelled there -- men or demons. Glimpses of shadowy figures moving through the night lead El Borak on a wild, strange search that always ends in the same place: a black cliff through which only a demon could pass. The noise of the djinn, which echoes among the crags, is a sound to turn a man's heart to ice as it mocks El Borak and his mission as he follows the trail of Three-Bladed Doom."

Kull, The Destroyer / Heft-Reihe

To Sit the Topaz Throne!

Cover: Ernie Chan

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1978

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/32697/

1979; The Lost Valley of Iskander by Robert E. Howard. Cover art by Ken W. Kelly

Conan The King / Heft-Reihe

The Prince is dead

cover: Michael William Kaluta, John Severin

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1984

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/902217/

From the back cover:

 

SWORDS, SORCERY, SPECTACULAR ADVENTURES

 

Tiana of Reme, illegitimate daughter of a murdered duke and foster child of Caranga, the greatest of the pirate captains, embarks on a quest for her half brother, Bealost. But a captured Narokan merchantman -- and a severed hand -- take her to treacherous, alien lands.

 

"Not since Jirel of Joiry has there been a sword-wielding heroine like Tiana Highrider. For a long time, the field of sword-and-sorcery writing has been waiting for a swordswoman who can stand beside Conan, Brak, the Grey Mouser . . . It is good to know that this is only the first of what I hope will be many adventures to come." -- Andre Norton

Kull, The Destroyer / Heft-Reihe

The Hell beneath Atlantis!

cover: Marie Severin

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1977

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/30950/

1976 reprint; The Bull and the Spear by Michale Moorcock. Cover art by Chris Achilleos. Published by Quartet Books London

Kull, The Conqueror / Heft-Reihe

A King comes Riding!

art: Ross Andru, Wally Wood

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1971

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/24301/

The Adventurers / Heft-Reihe

The Hand That Deals

cover: Steve Hickman

Adventure Publications / USA 1987

Reprint: Comic-Club NK 2010

ex libris MTP

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_Publications

Kull, The Conqueror / Heft-Reihe

The Shadow Kingdom

art: Marie Severin, John Severin

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1971

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/24499/

1975; The Vultures of Whapeton by Robert E. Howard. Cover art by Jeff Jones.

Conan The Barbarian / Heft-Reihe

The Dance of the Skull!

Cover: John Buscema, Ernie Chan

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1978

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/31955/

1981; Red Sonja The Ring of Ikribu by David C. Smith & Richard L. Tierney. Cover art by Boris Vallejo.

Kull, The Destroyer / Heft-Reihe

Wings of the Night-Beast!

cover: Gil Kane, Tom Palmer

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1974

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/27648/

Conan The Barbarian / Heft-Reihe

The Lost Valley of Iskander!

Cover: John Buscema, Ernie Chan

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1977

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/31535/

Conan the Usurper, by Robert E. Howard & L. Sprague de Camp

Sphere, 1976

Cover art by Frank Frazetta

Conan The Barbarian / Heft-Reihe

The Battle at the Black Walls!

cover: Gil Kane

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1977

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/31035/

Conan The Barbarian / Heft-Reihe

He who waits--in the Well of Skelos!

cover: Gil Kane, Ernie Chan

Marvel Comics Group / USA 1977

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/30936/

There are spies lurking everywhere, reporting back to the Serpent Men that the fabled weapon Tombdeath has returned, and appears to be in the hands of a simple human barbarian.

 

An ancient sword lost for many years, Tombdeath traps the souls of those it slays inside the blood red gem set in its blade. One of those vanquished souls is said to be the greatest of the Serpent Kings, a supposed savior of the Serpent Men who will restore reptiles to their rightful place in dominance of mammals... if they can recover the sword and free their venerated leader.

 

The Serpent Men and their lackeys don't yet appreciate that this relic has been brought up from the depths by Nanoc, an outlander destined to slaughter countless foes in a lifetime of peril, adventure, and victory.

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