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Conan the Barbarian #44 (Marvel Comics, 1974)

Conan the Barbarian #44 (November 1974) published by Marvel Comics, titled "Of Flame and the Fiend!" Red Sonja guest-stars in this memorable, mind-bending issue of Conan, where the two of them must escape the Tower of Blood before they are bred to sub-human monsters in a torchlit pit to satisfy the immortal aspirations of a pair of wizards.

Conan the Barbarian #44
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Conan the Barbarian #44 Story Summary

After wandering into the strange, hidden valley filled with red mist and getting captured by a brother and sister pair of sorcerers in Conan the Barbarian #43, Conan and Red Sonja wake up in their prison cell beneath a crumbling tower filled with monsters and bat people (so, basically, a normal day for Conan).

Even though the two of them will likely die, or at a bare minimum, be bred to inhuman monsters to create offspring whose blood will be used to make a magic elixer that gives eternal life to their sorcerer overlords, Conan still finds time to flirt with Sonja, who kicks him in the face. After the two share a moment and discuss their fate, Morophla shows up and takes Conan away to the breeding pens.

A grim scene unfolds before Conan as he sees chambers filled with pale, subhuman monsters that the sorcerers used for breeding. Unfortunately, their blood is no longer human enough, and after the death of Dromek in Conan #43, Conan will be used to breed new ones. Conan refuses to do this, and Morophla spills a magic potion on him and then pushes the barbarian into the mating pit filled with monstrous, melting, subhumans.

Conan endures a drug trip, mind rape, and wakes to find himself back in his prison cell being cared for by Red Sonja. Though he has no recollection of what actually happened, he knows that he must escape or die trying.

Morophla's sister, Uathacht, appears in their cell from out of nowhere. Sonja rushes to punch her in the face, only to hit the stone pillar behind her holographic projection. As it turns out, Uathacht is super-duper horny and wants to sleep with Conan. Conan is willing, but only if the sorcerer frees Red Sonja. Uathacht refuses and attacks Red Sonja.

The two roll on the ground after the crazed witch pulls a knife, and Sonja arises, victorious. Uathacth lies dead on the stone floor, giving Conan and Sonja the time they need to escape through the dungeon's dark hallways filled with bat monsters! The bat monsters, however, want no part of it. They are somewhat freed after Uathacht's death, but Conan must still defeat Morophla.

When Sonja and Conan finally meet the powerful sorcerer, he summons monsters from Conan's past to battle the two warriors. Before Conan is nearly devoured by one of his terrible magic creations, Sonja lights the chamber on fire, which ignites and burns Morophla alive.

Sonja and Conan narrowly escape by jumping out of a window, only to find that they have to climb down a cliff. Conan, a Cimmerian, has no trouble, but Sonja falls to her death, almost. She is caught and saved by a bat monster, who lands her and Conan safely.

The two heroes thank the bat monsters and watch from a distance as the tower burns. Then, Red Sonja knocks out Conan and rides off.

Conan the Barbarian #44 Creative Team

  • Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas
  • Artist: John Buscema
  • Embellishers: The Crusty Bunkers
  • Colorist: Glynis Wein
  • Letterer: John Costanza

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