Giant-Size Conan 4-A

"Conan the Conqueror, Part 4: Swords of the South!"

Conan whisks Coutess Albiona free from Tarantia, away from the invading forces of Nemedia and the dark magics of Xaltotun. The followers of Asura guide the two to the welcome sanctuary of Poitain. Conan learns through a prophet that, in order to defeat Xaltotun, he must acquire the mystic jewel called the Heart of Ahriman, and further, that he must pry the jewel from the hands of the thief Zorathus. He won't find this easy, as he encounters betrayal and supernatural beasts in his path. Conan doesn't know it, but the followers of Asura shadow him, seeking to aid Conan's mission. 30 pages.

- Story continues in Savage Sword of Conan #8.

- Story adapted by Roy Thomas from Robert E. Howard's "The Hour of the Dragon", penciled by Gil Kane, inked by Frank Springer and Vince Colletta, colored by Phil Rache, and lettered by Joe Rosen.


"The Lurker Within!"

Conan travels to the city of Numalia in Nemedia, and finds employ with an ambitious royal, Lady Aztrias. She needs his skills as a thief to fix her gambling debts, and knows that a Stygian has sent a priceless relic as gift to Karanthes, a priest of Ibis, that it sits in the local merchant Kallian's warehouse. Conan breaks in to steal the gift, an enormous bowl, but finds Kallian there dead, the bowl empty. The guards come upon him and hold him for murder, and Lady Aztrias betrays him further. But the real murderer is still loose, and Stygian wizard Thoth-Amon watches from afar.

- Story adapted by Roy Thomas from Robert E. Howard's "The God In the Bowl", penciled by Barry Smith, inked by Sal Buscema and Dan Adkins, and lettered by Sam Rosen.

- Reprinted from Conan the Barbarian (1970) #7.