Savage Sword of Conan #53 - Marvel

An fairly unusual cover by Earl Norem--some wizard getting the drop on Conan, for once--leads off this issue of SSOC, featuring the story "The Sorcerer and the Soul" by Roy Thomas, John Buscema, and Rudy Nebres.

Set in Arenjun, the City of Thieves, it opens with Conan drinking, wenching, and fighting(of course), and he overhears talk of a valuable amulet called the Eye of Erlik. While attempting to steal it--all the while fighting other thieves who want it--he encounters the wizard Hisarr Zul.

Zul and Conan fight for a bit, which is always fun, since Conan doesn't like things he can't just slice up with his sword. Zul manages to trap Conan's soul in a magic mirror, which allows him to enlist Conan to do his bidding, by sending him to overtake the thief who has gotten ahold of the amulet! To be continued, by Crom!

There's a text section called "The Hyborian Reporter" all about a Halloween party thrown by Roy and Dannette Thomas, and featuring a pic of the Thomases dressed up as Conan(Roy doesn't quite pull this off, but who could?) and Red Sonja(works for me).

The other story is "Wings in the Night!" by Don Glut and David Wenzel, starring Solomon Kane. Adapted from the REH story, Kane finds himself in a village beset by cannibals---and if that wasn't enough, also a giant winged demon who swoops from the skies at night! Aaaahhh!

Both stories are fun and move a brisk clip. Buscema and Nebres make an ok pair--Buscema's forceful, strong work always shows through, and the facial expressions he puts on Conan are priceless.