Conan the Barbarian #23
Published and © by Marvel, February 1973
Title: “The Shadow of the Vulture”
Synopsis: Fleeing the warrior Vulture and a horde of Turanian soldiers, Conan returns to Makkalet and is saved by Red Sonja.
Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciler: Barry Windsor-Smith (as Barry Smith)
Inker: Sal Buscema, Dan Adkins and Chic Stone
Review: Roy Thomas serves up a strong, sophisticated story in this issue featuring the debut of soon-to-be Hyborian Age mainstay Red Sonja. The introduction of the she-devil with a sword proves to be a brilliant move. Given a female character who is his sexual and combative equal, Conan boorish behavior becomes more humorous and endearing than offensive. On the art side, Barry Windsor-Smith’s work continues to improve, but still isn’t quite there. His control over anatomy can still be a little shaky and this book’s trio of inkers seem unsure how to handle Windsor-Smith’s ever-increasing detail.
Grade: B+
Second opinion: Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: Red Sonja, sans iconic-but-silly chain-mail bikini.
Not-so-cool factor: The Vulture (not to be confused with the Spidey villain). What’s up those wings? Just not very scary on a barbarian.
Notable: First appearance of Red Sonja.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there a 6p British variant of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a National Diamond variant.
Character quotable: “They call me Red Sonja – they that speak of me at all.” – Red Sonja, in case you missed it
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Nov. 5, 2012.
