Raja, the bowman from Vezek, lay near the campfire, inhaling heavily. The pain from the toxic wound struck deeper into his chest with every breath. What dark affliction had the tiger-priest of Yota-Pong infected him with?
Conan sat opposite to his ally, his steel-blue eyes scanning the Turanian over shimmering flames. The holyman had leprosy. There is no doubt in the Cimmerian’s mind; he had seen the disease many times before in his travels. Yet, Raja affliction had taken the form of something darker, even animalistic in nature. This was more than sickness. It had to be a curse.
Conan woke in the early morning to the sounds of a horse racing from their camp. Raja of Vezek had fled after filling his belly with uncooked game meat. Had the sickness overwhelmed his mind? Within minutes, Conan was mounted and in pursuit. Even if there was no salvation for the archer, the man did save Conan’s life, of sorts. The barbarian owed him as such. If he could not deliver the man to an ample healer, he would at least give Raja a noble death. To the west, Conan followed. To the majestic Himelian Mountains.
“King Of Kombat”
Titan Comics catches up with Shawn Curley of NetherRealm Studios with an exclusive on Conan entering the world of Mortal Kombat. From pixels to Arnold Swartzenegger’s likeness, readers will get all the dirt. If you’re a Mortal Kombat fan, check this on out!
“The Twelfth Labor Of Breckenridge Elkins”
Breckenridge was the toughest roughneck on this side of the Humbolt Mountains; possibly the entire territory. He fought a dozen ranch hands in a saloon brawl in Gunstock. Hell, he even survived a scrap between two mountain lions as they fought for dominance. But when his uncle, Jeppard Elkins, ordered Breckenridge to perform twelve labors for tossing Horace Strick down a ravine, well after knowing what lay ahead of him, he would have forced that Greek Mythology book down his kin’s throat!
This is the tale of Breckenridge Elkins, America’s own Herculean incumbent. His love for a woman, one Maggie McNeil, has brought down a family penance and the curse of an Indian witch upon his head. To hell with Horace and his Strick family’s connivery. Twelve Labors worthy of Hercules will not stop an Elkins’ man from protecting his potential suitor!
Reviewer Notes
Out of all the books in the Titan Comics version of Savage Sword of Conan, this is hands down, my favorite issue in the series. Roberto de la Torre has become my favorite comic book artist of the last ten years. Frank Frazetta would be proud of this guy. Torre’s work is amazing!
Breckenridge Elkins must be one of Robert E Howard’s more obscure characters, as this is the first time I’ve heard of him. The Twelfth Labor of Breckenridge Elkins is a fascinating story that could have stepped out of the pages of any American Folktale children’s book. It’s pure western Americana. I give Issue #07 five out of five stars. Go get this one before it sells out!
