Revision On The Black Coast!

Now we are done with roaming, evermore;
No more the oars, the windy harp's refrain;
Nor crimson pennon frights the dusky shore;
Blue girdle of the world, receive again
Her whom thou gavest me.

--The Song of Belit

Here's the dramatic cover for Conan the Barbarian #100 by John Buscema and Ernie Chan. It's a dramatic presentation of arguably the most heart-wrenching moment in Conan's life, a life filled with death and tragedy.


Here's an earlier presentation of this classic image by John Buscema. It's easy to see why this one was rejected when compared to the published version. It lacks that dynamic power that Buscema was able muster. The pose is more realistic, but lacks the punch of the published figure with the legs spread further apart. And Conan looks uncharacteristically forlorn, and not at all the man of action we anticipate.


And here are some foreign language reprints of the original, each giving the art a different feel.




And here's a resin model based on the classic image.


And here is the REH short story that this comic is based on.

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