"The Valley of the Worm" by Robert E. Howard is an odd one. It's a story of vigor and punch, but for some reason lacks the atmosphere I often associate with Howard's most effective stories. There's no doubt I read the story first in its Marvel Comics adapted form in Supernatural Thrillers #3 by Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway with lush Gil Kane and Ernie Chan artwork. Flush with success in Conan, Thomas was quick to try and turn the pulps into a primary source. This story is rock solid throughout and offers a barbarian properly in the Conan mode.
John Jakes and Richard Corben a few years later did their own version of this story titled "Bloodstar" which was serialized in Heavy Metal after being published as a complete tale.
This story first appeared in Weird Tales.
The story begins in the "now" as a man named James Allison ponders past lives. These lives stretch back into dim and forgotten times and Allison once upon a time was a hero named Niord who was a mighty warrior among the Aesir, the white-skinned blond-haired dominant race of the era who were inveterate nomads and find themselves entering into an unknown land inhabited by some of Howard's ubiquitous Picts. One Pict named Grom finds alliance with Niord, who is famed for single-handedly having slain a sabre-tooth tiger.
Spoilers Beginneth!
Niord eventually learns of the the Valley of the Broken Bones, a place where antique ruins mark the passing of an even more ancient people. The Picts steer clear of this dangerous place because of the hideous monster, an enormous white worm which is called forth by sinister music played by a shaggy manlike creature. Some of Niord's people try to settle there and meet their grisly demise. Seeking vengeance Niord first slays a giant serpent in order to get venom to kill the even more dangerous monster of the valley. He kills the monster but dies himself, ending one of many lives he will have over the centuries.
Spoilers Endeth!
The story is unfortunately marred by some of the more overt racism Howard was capable of. There are some demeaning comments made toward black races, suggestions of a degenerate nature which while sometimes hinted at in his better stories is a little bit too on the nose in this one.
Nonetheless it is a pretty good adventure yarn, though the hero is a bit of a lout.
To read Howard's original story go HERE.
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Haven't read the original story, but got the True Believers reprint of the Marvel issue a few years ago and quite enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI picked that one up myself. It was nice to read the story again with nice white paper.
DeleteI wasn't fond either of the original story or the comics version. Howard did his best with this concept (probably borrowed from a similar Jack London effort) in the story GARDEN OF FEAR, which also made a superior CONAN tale. And Kane did much better Howard-style action elsewhere IMO. But to each his own.
ReplyDeleteTo each his own Gene. That Garden of Fear story is a stunner and one of the scariest Conan stories they ever made at Marvel. I personally love Ernie Chan's inks on Kane's pencils which to my mind often need more body.
DeleteNice art by the great Gil Kane. He produced quality work for years. Love his crisp linework. Re: Blackmark -- the complete series was collected and published by Fantagraphics in 2002 and looks like it's out-of-print.
ReplyDeleteLoved Blackmark. Have the original paperback but appreciate the larger Fantagraphics version.
DeleteI only managed to pick up one issue of Heavy Metal that had a Bloodstar episode and didn't realise that this was based on "Valley of the Worm" - I really liked the Marvel adaption in Supernatural Tales as well, but O have never read Howard's original tale .
ReplyDeleteREH's "race memory" stories are a bit problematic these days, but make for some good adventure.
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