My Rating
“Shadows In Zamboula”
Originally published in: The Savage Sword of Conan (Marvel, 1974 series) #14 (September 1976)
The slaves of Darfar grow hungry.
Conan has journeyed east into the lands of Khauran. Beneath a merciless sun, the dunes stretch endless and burning, searing his weathered skin. Now, the Cimmerian seeks refuge within the desert city of Zamboula. Once a thriving hub of trade and commerce, the city has withered into a den of master weaponsmiths and ruthless slave traders—a place where fortunes are won, or lives are quietly lost.
Night falls as Conan strides through the bazaar. For a fleeting moment, his instincts stir. Something is wrong. Beggars lie sprawled in the open streets, unguarded and exposed, while the surrounding houses sit eerily empty. The contrast gnaws at him.
He quickens his pace.
The memory of an old Zuagir’s warning echoes in his mind, spoken through cracked lips and failing breath:
“Peril hides in the House of Aram Baksh.”
Madness… or truth?
The answer looms ahead.
A fortified tavern rises from the shadows. From somewhere to the south, drums begin their steady, hypnotic beat, pulsing through the night air. Conan pauses, measuring the distance between that ominous rhythm and the place before him.
Then, without hesitation, his fist crashes against the heavy, reinforced door.
It is time to enter the House of Aram Baksh.
“The Gods Of The Hyborian Age”
Originally published in: The Savage Sword of Conan #6 (June, 1975).
A very nice piece written by Robert Yaple regarding the gods of Hyboria. Fans of the setting will be both informed and entertained. Robert E Howard would be proud.
Review
Drawn from the pages of The Savage Sword of Conan No. 14 (Marvel, 1976), this colorized reprint of “Shadows in Zamboula” stands as one of the finest adaptations of Robert E. Howard’s work ever put to print. Having read countless interpretations of Howard’s stories over the years, I can say without hesitation—this is my favorite.
Based on a brief outline Howard penned in the 1930s, Roy Thomas expands the material into a gripping, fully realized tale of savage fantasy. Every element hits: atmosphere, tension, brutality, and that unmistakable Hyborian grit. It captures the raw spirit of Conan in a way few adaptations ever manage.
This is Conan at his absolute best.
A no-holds-barred classic that earns a full five out of five stars.
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