Conan the Barbarian #78

Issue Details

Synopsis

Shadizar, Zamora:Red Sonja witnesses a public execution in the city square - the sorceror,Costranno,is sentenced to death. Before his dismemberment he shouts a curse at Berthilda,the woman responsible for severing his ring-finger,the source of his magic...SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content.Later, elsewhere in the city,Conan stumbles upon a scene,as fleeing robed priests are attacked by a gang of thieves. A fight ensues,and joined by Red Sonja,the brigands are dispatched. In the alley the priests fled from,is the assembled corpse of Costranno, surrounded by magical runes. Conan finds the wizards ring-finger,flinging it away in superstitious dread. Sonja relates the events at the execution to him,and they retire to a nearby tavern...Whilst drinking,Red Sonya has a confrontation with a harlot and knocks her down...Costranno, back from death aided by necromantic powers of his ring, is also frquenting the bar and enquiring the wherabouts of the woman Berthilda to enact his revenge...As the undead wizard leaves,Conan notices the jeweled ring - from the very same severed hand he left in the alley! Before they can leave,a squad of city-gaurds arrive to arrest Sonya and Conan having been alerted by the assaulted harlot.Once again,a fight ensues but Conan and Sonya manage to slip out and escape in the streets...Conan`s curiosity is aroused and they seek out the house of Berthilda. Entering,they find Costranno and an acolyte preparing to sacrifice Berthilda...Conan attacks the undead wizard, but his blows prove useless against Costranno`s animated body.... Sonya dispatches the acolyte but is grabbed by some monstrosity that reaches out from a smoking pit in the room`s centre...Severing Costranno`s hand at the wrist, the wizard collapses, dead again when detached from...   The issue features the story `Curse Of The Undead-Man` - an adaptation of R.E. Howard`s `Mistress Of Death`. Originally printed in Savage Sword of Conan #1.