A (nearly) Complete Chronology of THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN

6/1/2025

In December of 2024, I published a project I had been working on for quite some time: putting the first 100 issues of The Savage Sword of Conan into chronological order. I have since then continued to read as much Savage Sword as I can, continuing to place the stories in an attempt at chronological order.

While a lot of people have tried to collapse all the Marvel Comics Conan stories into one chronology, I won't be doing that. Once or twice, the comics cross over (like when SSOC #1 continues a story from CTB #42, which had come out just a bit earlier) and sometimes they reference each other (like when SSOC #204 involves characters introduced years prior in CTB #84-94). But the two often offer conflicting accounts several times: for example, they each have different stories about how Conan gained the name Amra. Additionally, Conan the Barbarian frequently teams Conan up with original companions for a length of a few issues who, if these stories were happening concurrently, would have those characters be weirdly and intermittently absent. And finally, the two just feel like very different beasts. Even though the two technically take place in the same timeline, I'll mostly leave Conan the Barbarian out.

Like in my previous post, there are a few factors that I used to place these stories:

Explicit chronological clues like a line referring to past events or places Conan has already been.
Life periods. Many stories set themselves in one of the accepted periods of Conan's life: they say on the first page or two that Conan is currently a young thief or a pirate with the Red Brotherhood.
Conan's characterization. Does he seem experienced and shrewd? Or fresh and foolish?
How other characters treat Conan. Sometimes he is referred to as "young man" or even "pup" by others. Sometimes his reputation precedes him and people recoil in awe.
Location. There were many stories that could fit a bunch of different places in the timeline but I've placed them next to stories where Conan doesn't have to move as much across the map to avoid the "mad dash across the Hyborian world" problem. For example, if a story takes place in Zamboula with no other chronological clues, I might place it near to "Shadows in Zamboula."

Below is my updated attempt to put all these stories into an order. I'd say "a coherent order" but one character having this many adventures in one lifetime truly doesn't make any sense at all.

Stories added into the chronology by Savage Sword are marked in red. If a story was not adapted into a story in Savage Sword, but there is a comic adaption from one of the other Bronze Age anthology Conan books like Conan the Barbarian, King Conan, or Savage Tales, I've marked those as well. Notes are marked in blue.

I hope this thing isn't so long that it takes forever to load.

The earliest stories in Savage Sword's chronology pick up in Conan's early youth, before he leaves Cimmeria for the first time.

"Rite of Blood" - Savage Sword 89

This is the backup story in SSOC 89. Conan is said to be in his 12th year and takes place in Cimmeria.

"Hunters and Hunted!" - Savage Sword 83

This is the backup story in SSOC 83. It features Conan as a teenager before he leaves Cimmeria as a young adult for the first time.

"Old Garrad's Heart" - Savage Sword 203

This adaption of a Robert E. Howard story is the backup in issue 203. It takes place when Conan is 14, less than one year before the siege of Venarium.

"Day of Manhood" - Savage Sword 227

This story features a 14 year-old Conan earning his manhood by doing the Cimmerian version of a Bar Mitzfah: fighting a bull. Conan references the "building of a fort," clearly referring to the fort at Venarium, which he will soon lay siege to.

"The Black Hound of Death" - Savage Sword 219

In this issue, which is mostly a flashback from his kozak days back to Cimmeria, Conan is 15 years old, one summer on from Venarium. He meets the evil Commander Grimm.

Here, we see a time jump of a few years. We skip over Conan leaving Cimmeria for the first time. If you want to see a version of that, the first Conan the Barbarian Free Comic Book Day Issue from Titan covers it. We pick up with Conan up north, and one of the first Robert E. Howard stories.

"The Coming of Conan" - Savage Sword 222

This early story tells of Conan meeting the Aesir raiders that he's fighting alongside in "The Frost-Giant's Daughter."

"The Frost-Giant's Daughter" - Savage Tales of Conan 1

"The Mill" - Savage Sword 105

Conan is up north with the Aesir. Penciller Gary Kwapisz gives Conan the front-facing, two-horned helmet and chain that he has in early Conan the Barbarian comics as a shorthand for Conan's youth. Essentially, any time you see the Barry Windsor-Smith costume, it means Conan is about 17.

"Legions of the Dead" - Savage Sword 39

"The Thing in the Crypt" - Conan the Barbarian 92

"The Mercenary" - Savage Sword 126

This issue puts Conan in his Barry Windsor-Smith costume, which usually indicates that he's still about 17. In or near Brythunia, it seems to be one of the first wars Conan participates in.

Here is the start of the thief stories. Several of them were not adapted in Savage Sword, but only in Conan the Barbarian. That's always puzzled me- "Rogues in the House" is so good ("The God in the Bowl" is good too, just not quite as good), I'm not sure why it never made it to SSOC. Maybe Roy felt he'd done it well enough in CtB.

"The God in the Bowl" - Conan the Barbarian 7

"Rogues in the House" - Conan the Barbarian 10 - 11

"The Tower of the Elephant" - Savage Sword 24 (also adapted in Conan the Barbarian #4)

"The Darksome Demon of Raba-Than" - Savage Sword 84

In this story, Conan is explicitly 17 years old and in Zamora's City of Thieves, which the comic names Arenjun (though we know they're probably two different cities). Conan is still getting used to "civilized" society and is stealing as a profession, placing it probably right before or after "The Tower of the Elephant." It introduces the Brotherhood of the Falcon as enemies of Conan.

"The World Beyond the Mists" - Savage Sword 93

This story is a direct sequel to SSOC 84. It features the Brotherhood of the Falcon, who were the baddies in issue 84, seeking revenge on Conan. This one takes Conan to another plane of existence where he sees a funhouse mirror version of his future where he's King Konar of Aquiloria with his wife, Zenoria.

Conan and the Sorcerer - Savage Sword 53 - 55

Andrew J. Offutt's trilogy of Conan stories are adapted out of order. They all are intended to take place right after "The Tower of the Elephant."

Conan the Mercenary - Savage Sword 217 - 218

The Sword of Skelos - Savage Sword 57 - 58

"Alchemy" - Savage Sword 118

This backup story in SSOC118 shows Conan returning to a sorcerer who he has apparently bee hired by to steal something. Since Conan is thieving and seems young, it's probably in Zamora. Tony Salmons' art here is great; he does a lot with fewer pencil lines than most Savage Sword artists.

"The Treachery of the Gray Wolf!" - Savage Sword 104

King Konar of Aquiloria, Conan's mirror-world analogue is back, this time enlisting Conan's help. While this is obviously a sequel to SSOC 93, it seems that some time has passed since Conan has last seen Konar.

"Thief in the Night" - Savage Sword 213

This funny little B-story features Conan stealing some jewels in Zamora and meeting some... lonely women in the process.

"The Cave Dwellers" - Savage Sword 77

This one is scant on chronological clues, but takes place in Shadizar, near where "The Hall of the Dead" opens.

"The Palace of Pleasure" - Savage Sword 81

This issue specifically says that Conan is young, inexperienced, and fairly new to Zamora. It takes place in and near Shadizar, so it could go near "The Hall of the Dead."

"The Blood Ruby of Death" - Savage Sword 98

This one opens in Shadizar, with a few other Zamorian touchstones like dawn breaking over the Kezankian mountains and men swearing by the thief god Bel. Since it's in Shadizar, I suppose it can go before "The Hall of the Dead," but I'm not super confident on this placement.

"The Hall of the Dead" / the Nestor synopsis - Conan the Barbarian 8

The Nestor synopsis, known more commonly by the name of the title L. Sprague de Camp gave it: "The Hall of the Dead," is usually considered the end of the thief stories. Other than one small digression in SSOC 91's B story, the Turanian mercenary stories begin immediately. In Roy Thomas's Conan the Barbarian series, the Turanian mercenary period is greatly expanded with the "War of the Tarim," frequently referenced in stories penned by Thomas.

"The Vezek Inn" - Savage Sword 109

This little backup story features a zonked-out Conan trying to get some sleep in Vezek, a border town in Zamora. He seems pretty young and is unknown to all.

"The Beast" - Savage Sword 91

This is the backup story for issue 91. It was written by Marvel all-star Jim Owsley, who would later write under the name Christopher Priest. It's a werewolf story that takes place in a border village near Ophir. Conan and his pall Yago have "tracked this werewolf down from the Border Kingdoms," but it's all a ruse. Conan seems young and kind of dumb. Is the Nestor here the Nestor from "The Hall of the Dead?" This is a great, brief little story.

"The Valley of Howling Shadows" - Savage Sword 118

This gonzo little adventure features Conan clothed in his early Barry Windsor-Smith outfit: his front-facing horned helmet and pendant with three medallions to denote that he's young. It takes place in Ophir and is honestly pretty fun. There's lots going on in the valley of howling shadows.

"The Chain" - Savage Sword 91

This is the C story in the back of SSOC 91. It's another great little tale from Jim Owsley. I'm placing it a little before "The Hand of Nergal" since it shows Conan impressing King Yildiz of Turan, ultimately leading to an offer to join their army as a mercenary.

"The Gods of Bal-Sagoth" - Savage Sword 13

This is kind of an interesting one. It's an adaption of Howard's "The Gods of Bal-Sagoth," which is a Turlough O'Brien story, and Thomas had already adapted it once for Conan the Barbarian. Conan is obviously very young, but some of the lines imply that he's actually very fresh from the siege of Venarium, but Conan seems to be much further east than that would allow, on the Vilayet Sea and selling his sword to the Turanians. Yezdigerd is still a prince of Turan rather than king and does not yet know who Conan is. This probably means it's very early in Conan's tenure with the Turanians.

"The Hand of Nergal" / the Yaralet fragment - Conan the Barbarian 30

"The City of Skulls" - Savage Sword 59

"The People of the Summit"

"The Curse of the Monolith" - Savage Sword 33

"Night of the Rat!" - Savage Sword 95

This one takes place in Western Khitai with Conan leading a band of men. While the story never specifically says they're Turanians, Conan so seldom gets to Khitai that it's almost certainly during his mercenary days.

"A Dream of an Empire" - Savage Sword 112

This story takes place in Agrapur, Turan. Conan is travelling alone and does not appear to have worked with or led the Afghulis, placing this story likely before most of his Vendhyan adventures. Additionally, he seems to be working as a "stable boy," perhaps to make some coin on his way back west from Khitai.

"The Secret of Skull River" - Savage Sword 5

Conan states that he's riding from Turan to Zamora in this story, specifically to Shadizar. I'm guessing it takes place on his way back west from his time as a Turanian mercenary.

"The Colossus of Shem" - Savage Sword 72

Like "The Secret of Skull River," this story begins in Turan with Conan riding to Zamora. I like to think of this one as an alternate account of how he gets there, contradicting SSOC 5.

"The Colossus of Shem" in SSOC 72 is functionally the end of the Turanian mercenary stories. In several original stories along with a few adaptions, Conan wanders west afterword. In some chronologies, Conan follows the Road of Kings west from Turan. In others, he wanders a bit more.

Conan and the Spider God - Savage Sword 207 - 210

During his second run on the title, Roy Thomas adapts the novel Conan and the Spider God. He provides some prologue mentioning events of issues 32-38 of Conan the Barbarian, setting it right after his War of the Tarim.

"The Blood-Stained God" - Marvel Super Special 9 (and reprinted in Conan Saga 80)

"Curse of the Ageless Ones" - Savage Sword 128

Conan is in the Kezankian Mountains of Zamora. Judging by Conan's garb, which pretty easily fits the description of his "red cloak" era (described in detail at the beginning of "Queen of the Black Coast," with his Aesir helmet and such, this story is probably placed after Conan's Turanian mercenary stories, on his way back west.

"The Curse of the Undead Man" - Savage Sword 1

The first issue of Savage Sword is pretty interesting- it actually takes place within the storyline of the concurrently-running Conan the Barbarian comic, which was up to 42 issues by that point. This issue says that this story is "freely adapted" from Howard's unfinished Agnes de Chastillon story "Mistress of Death." If you're only looking at Savage Sword, the story is still pretty obvious about where it lands chronologically. It opens in the Zamorian thief city, where Conan seems more at home than in "The Tower of the Elephant." Conan says he is "on his way west" and enlisting in armies for pay, so this is already probably during his mercenary period, likely right after "The Blood-Stained God." However, the story clearly takes place in the continuity of the Conan the Barbarian comic, which told a linear story rather than jumping around in Conan's life. Roy Thomas drastically increased Conan's time in the east after his thieving days. Instead of a two-year stint as a mercenary for Turan, Conan spends at least three years in Turan, Khitai, and Hyrkania, including an extended stay in Aghrapur. Issue 42 of Conan ends with him fleeing the desert of Turan for the thief city of Zamora. Conan is rescued in a fight by Red Sonja, who explicitly references events of Conan the Barbarian 24, and issue 43 is a direct continuation of Savage Sword 1. I don't always love considering the Conan the Barbarian timeline Savage Sword timeline to be the same ones since there's some weird overlap in adaptions, but this is where this story belongs.

"Autumn of the Witch" - Savage Sword 130

Like Issue 129, Conan is clad in his "red cloak" costume. This story takes place in Brythunia, a little farther to the west than Zamora.

"The Forever Phial" - Savage Sword 8

Takes place in Brythunia, I'm guessing on Conan's way back north to where "Lair of the Ice Worm" takes place. Conan uses a bow, which he learns how to do as a Turanian mercenary, so it has to take place after his Turanian service. There aren't too many clues as to this story's continuity other than that.

"A Horror of a Different Color" - Savage Sword 227

As Conan passes through the Border Kingdom, apparently having just fought an evil wizard, he has a short encounter with a local terror. Not many clues other than his location, so it fits that he would be passing through after Brythunia on his way west.

"The Lair of the Ice Worm" - Savage Sword 34

"Winter of the Wolf" - Savage Sword 132

This somewhat odd and lackluster werewolf story puts Conan with an Aquilonian war party and they flee further north to an isolated fort with a werewolf infestation problem.

"Cursers of the Light" - Savage Sword 133

This is one of Chuck Dixon's weirder stories. Conan is on the northern reaches of Aquilonia and headed south. Seeing as he's wearing a wolfskin and he killed a fuckton of wolves in the previous issue, I think this one might actually follow its issue's immediate predecessor.

"The Quest for the Shrine of Luma" - Savage Sword 113

Conan is a fairly young man in Aquilonia, trying to earn some gold from their aristocracy. He's possibly passing through the first time on his way toward Argos.

"Child of Sorcery" - Savage Sword 29

Conan seems decently young, but there are literally almost no chronological clues in this story. It seems to take place on the border of “the north,” and the environs read to me like a Hyborian nation (Aquilonia? Argos? Nemedia?) , so perhaps this story takes place while Conan crosses much of the map on his way to Argos.

"The Sea of No Return" - Savage Sword 66

Another really tricky story to place. Conan is said to be young and recently from mercenary work which he found unsatisfying. It could be talking about his days with the Turanians seeing as, by my estimation, he seemed to be less satisfied with that than other merc work he did in his career. Since it takes place between Poitain and Argos, I'd say it might be right before "Queen of the Black Coast," as Conan is moving southwest from this direction toward Messantia, where "Queen of the Black Coast" opens.

"The Debt of the Warrior" - Savage Sword 123

The B-story in issue #123 takes place one year after Conan's Turanian mercenary experience in which he stumbles across the family of a man he killed during war. The location is unstated.

"Queen of the Black Coast" marks the beginning of Conan's first pirate period. His first pirate crew is aboard the Tigress with Belit. Many authors have told extended adventures of Conan and Belit together, which usually happen between the first and second chapters of "Queen of the Black Coast."

"Queen of the Black Coast," Chapter I - Conan the Barbarian 58

"The Leopard Men of Darfar" - Savage Sword 97

This story takes place during Conan's time with Belit, so it takes place after the first chapter of "Queen of the Black Coast." It opens in Stygia with Conan trying to get a noblewoman back to her father. Conan alludes to Belit potentially not being happy that she is warming up to him. This story actually shows Conan earning his nickname "Amra."

"Lion of the Waves" - Savage Sword 86

There are several backup stories in Savage Sword issues that are illustrated poems; they feature a stanza or two per page and have pictures to go with them. This is an illustrated verse about Conan's time as "Amra" amid the Black Corsairs, so it takes place during "Queen of the Black Coast."

"Deepest Devotion" - Savage Sword 107

Like "The Leopard Men of Darfar" and "Lion of the Waves," this short backup story in issue 107 takes place during Conan's time with Belit in "Queen of the Black Coast."

"Queen of the Black Coast," Chapters II - V - Conan the Barbarian 59

Like he did in Turan with his "War of the Tarim" storyline, Roy Thomas actually greatly expanded on Conan's time with Belit and the Black Corsairs aboard The Tigress, pairing them for about 40 issues.

Conan comes ashore ending his first pirate period and here begins to wander north from the Black Kingdoms in his next experiences as a mercenary.

"The Vale of Lost Women" - Conan the Barbarian 104

"The Castle of Terror"

"The Snout in the Dark" - Conan the Barbarian 106 - 107

"The Fountain of Umir" - Savage Sword 121

On the plains of Shem, Conan sells his sword in a bidding war. I place this story purposefully soon after the death of Belit in "Queen of the Black Coast." Many people have noted a more sullen, angry Conan following the death of his true love (that's one of the reasons why "The Vale of Lost Women" has historically been sequenced after "Queen of the Black Coast." In this issue of Savage Sword, Conan is abnormally impatient and pissy.

After Conan returns to the Hyborian kingdoms from the south, we move into a period of Conan's life mostly unseen in the original REH canon where he acts as a mercenary for various city-states in Corinthia.

"Werewoman" - Savage Sword 221

This story takes place in some unnamed salt flats in Corinthia. The narration implies that Conan has only recently taken to "soldiering" with the Corinthian army.

"The Lurker in the Labyrinth" - Savage Sword 71

After "The Snout in the Dark," Conan decides to work as a mercenary again, this time going up to Corinthia to work for various city-states. "Black Colossus" says outright that Conan had already been a mercenary for Corinthia, placing the next set of stories prior to "Black Colossus."

"Demons in the Firelight" - Savage Sword 78 - 79

A mercenary story. Conan is commanding in Corinthia.

"Devourer of Souls" - Savage Sword 90

Conan continues to command Corinthian forces. In this issue in particular, his characterization seems pretty sophisticated, almost like he comes across in "The Treasure of Tranicos." This is the first appearance of the villain Wrarrl the Soul Eater, who I can't decide if I hate or not. Many of the original villains after about issue 80 get pretty dorky.

"The Ape-Bat of Marmet Tarn" - Savage Sword 96

What a title. Takes place "a scant few days" after "Devourer of Souls." Wrarrl is back and we're still in Corinthia.

"Forest of Fiends" - Savage Sword 91

Another chapter of Conan commanding Corinthian forces against another city-state, probably following closely after 90 and 96. Not a great issue.

"Claws of the Osprey" - Savage Sword 108

This frankly wild story features Conan commanding for a Corinthian city-state and has a long stretch at the end of complete wordlessness. Its ending hints at the return of Wrarrl the Soul Eater.

"The Shatterer of Worlds" - Savage Sword 109

A direct sequel to issue 108, Wrarrl returns.

"Lions of Corinthia" - Savage Sword 228

This is quite the issue, with a few factors that make it unique. "Partly adapted" (rather than the usual "Freely adapted") from a Howard story called "The Lion of Tiberias," it's a dark war story, and Alex Nino's crude lines and heavy hatching do a great work emphasizing the brutality of the narrative. Additionally, it features an enemy with a feline face, but who's a walking, talking warlord. Most animal-like Conan enemies are usually shapeshifters or speechless beasts, so it's a little strange to see Conan fight an anthropomorphic cat. It still works. Conan is fighting for a Corinthian city-state in this issue, and is one of the only times Roy Thomas ever wrote a story in this period of Conan's life.

"The God of Thieves" - Savage Sword 211

Here's kind of an interesting pair of stories. Conan is escorting some mecenaries from Corinthia to Zamora at the beginning of this two-parter. Strangely enough, Roy Thomas isn't credited on this first issue at all (James Rose gets a "Story" credit, with no explict "Script" credit), while he is credited on the sequel as the sole writer. Weird! I don't think I've ever seen that anywhere else in Savage Sword.

"The Blood of Bel" - Savage Sword 212

The conclusion of the story began in issue 211.

Here we leave Corinthia and enter Conan's more commonly-accepted first mercenary period.

"The Dweller in the Depths" - Savage Sword 70

Takes place in Meshken on the west side of Khoraja. It's a good, weird little body horror story. There aren't many clues for its placement in the chronology but Meshken is close by to where Conan has been, so I'm sliding it in here without much confidence.

"The Gamesmen of Asgalun" - Savage Sword 89

This story opens in eastern Shem and takes place after "Queen of the Black Coast" as Conan mentions Belit by name. It takes us to Keshatta in Stygia but ends up back in Asgalun. A pretty awful, racist issue.

"Eye of the Sorcerer" - Savage Sword 69

Opens once again in Asgalun. Conan is noted to have his Turanian mercenary experience under his belt. This was a very epic, fun story.

"The Vengeance of Nitocris" - Savage Sword 216

I had no idea that Tennessee Williams ever wrote for Weird Tales. But he did! This adaption by Roy Thomas of his ancient Egyptian story takes place in Shem and Stygia. The original was published in 1928, in the same WT issue that introduced Solomon Kane.

"Hawks Over Shem" - Savage Sword 36

"Black Colossus" - Savage Sword 2

"At the Mountain of the Moon God" - Savage Sword 3

This story, original to SSOC, is a direct sequel to "Black Colossus."

"Shadows in the Dark"

"Colossus of Argos" - Savage Sword 80

Takes place in Messantia. Conan seems young, but pretty mature. It says he's "toppled mighty monuments" in his day, so it's probably after "The City of Skulls" and it's definitely before his kingship based on one line in the story. This one is tough to place.

"Isle of the Faceless Ones" - Savage Sword 115

Accompanied by his friend Tebnar, Conan travels to an island in the western ocean in search of gold. He seems about the same age as Tebnar, and they both seem like they're in their 20s. Because it takes place in Zingara, this placement seems as likely as any.

"The Wizard-Fiend of Zingara" - Savage Sword 61

Conan is acting as a mercenary for Zingara, which is in close proximity to Messantia, so this is my best guess for this issue.

"The Mud Men of Keshan" - Savage Sword 111

Conan takes on some small-timers on the coast of Shem before heading to Zamboula and then into the jungles for a time. Conan name-drops himself as Amra, but doesn't seem to be known in Zamboula, so my best guess is that it's after "Queen of the Black Coast" and before his Zuagir raider days.

"Death Dwarves Stygia" - Savage Sword 94

Conan is joined in this issue by a female companion from Kordava. They were on a pirate ship prior to the exposition, when they were thrown overboard. The story opens on the Stygian coast and Conan is referred to as "youngster" by some characters. I'm placing this with "The Wizard-Fiend of Zingara" since they take place in similar areas, but I don't have a ton to go off of. This is probably the flat-out stupidest story in Savage Sword's first 100 issues, and to cap it all off, the interior title page doesn't even get the title right- it just says "Death Dwarves Stygia." Shouldn't it be "Death Dwarves of Stygia?"

"Children of Rhan" - Savage Sword 64

Conan is trying to get to Vanaheim for an unexplained reason. He was "supposed to board a ship" to get there, but is instead having to cross the Pictish Wilderness on foot. To me, that means he probably started in Kordava, a major port city near the Pictish Wilderness, so I'm placing this with other Zingara-set stories. It's an excellent issue!

"The Temple of the Tiger" - Savage Sword 62

This takes place on the Vilayet Sea with Conan up to his piratical ways, but Conan doesn't seem to be in with the Red Brotherhood yet, placing it before "Iron Shadows in the Moon."

Conan here heads east to the Vilayet Sea and begins his second pirate period, this time with the crew known as the Red Brotherhood.

"Iron Shadows in the Moon" - Savage Sword 4

"Sons of the White Wolf" - Savage Sword 37

Another story "freely adapted" by Roy Thomas. It's explicitly a kozaki raider story that takes place near the Vilayet Sea. Since I figured it was placed somewhere around "The Road of the Eagles," and I'm placing it right before it since "Eagles" is in the following issue and there are sometimes issues that follow directly from their predecessor.

"The Road of the Eagles" - Savage Sword 38

Here is the beginning of Conan's period as a Zuagir raider. This period is often visited in SSOC.

"A Witch Shall Be Born" - Savage Sword 5

"Mirror of the Manticore" - Savage Sword 58

One possible sequel to "A Witch Shall Be Born," featuring an explanation of how Olgerd Vladislav survived. Contradicts Savage Sword issue 6.

"Sleeper Beneath the Sands" - Savage Sword 6

Another possible sequel to "A Witch Shall Be Born" featuring Olgerd Vladislav. It's a different situation than "Mirror of the Manticore," so the two can't exist in the same continuity.

"Citadel at the Center of Time" - Savage Sword 7

Yet another alternate sequel to "A Witch Shall Be Born."

"Black Tears" - Savage Sword 35

"The Curse of the Cat Goddess" - Savage Sword 9

Conan is in the desert with the Zuagirs, acting as their chief. The next dozen stories or so could all be swapped around quite a bit with almost nothing changing. Many Zuagir raider stories just put Conan generally in a desert, doing general raider things. A lot of them don't have any clues outside setting Conan with the Zuagirs.

"Moat of Blood" - Savage Sword 63

Like SSOC 9, this is a desert-set Zuagir raider story.

"Reavers of the Steppes" - Savage Sword 131

It doesn't really seem to matter when this kozaki story is set, as long as it's in the period with Conan as the kozak hetman.

Savage Sword 218 - 221, 223 - 226, 229 - 235

Starting in issue 218, Roy Thomas begins a story thread that will continue through the end of the book. Penciled by Mike Docherty, Conan leads a coalition of kozaki against King Yildiz, whose forces are being commanded by the evil Cimmerian Grimm. He is reunited with several friends like Red Sonja, Zula, Fafnir, Juma, and the Pitctish shaman Gonar. Conan is hurled back into the Thurian Age and encounters King Kull and Brule the Spear-Slayer. This long epic goes all over the place! Its conclusion, "The Blood of the Beasts," in the final issue #235, is the last story in SSOC.

"Isle of the Hunter" - Savage Sword 88

Another Zuagir story, this time set explicitly in Zamboula, so I'm placing it directly before "Shadows in Zamboula."

"Shadows in Zamboula" - Savage Sword 14

"The Star of Khorala" - Savage Sword 44

"The Hill of Horror" - Savage Sword 95

Conan rescues a damsel in Koth. It's another illustrated poem backing up the A story.

"The Country of the Knife" - Savage Sword 11

"Freely adapted" from an El Borak story of the same name. A very minor character is given the name "Borak" as an easter egg. This one takes place in Koth, beginning in the city of Khorshemish and then going probably east to the border with Zamora, seeing as men begin to swear by Bel, the thief god that's commonly worshipped in Zamora.

"One Night in the Maul" - Savage Sword 99

This one takes place in Zamora's frequently-seen and debauchery-prone ghetto, The Maul. Conan seems older and shrewder than his early adventures in Zamora.

"When a God Lives" - Savage Sword 100

Another story that takes place in Zamora. I initially wanted to place this one much earlier, along with the early thief stories like "The Tower of the Elephant," but Conan mentions the Eye of Erlik, which means it probably takes place after the Andrew Offutt works like Conan and the Sorcerer. Conan is also recognized as "Amra the Lion," which means it must take place after his first pirate period.

"At the Altar of the Goat God" - Savage Sword 125

What an interesting creative team we have on this issue! While he usually just writes, Gary Kwapisz plots and draws the issue while scripting is left up to Jim Owsley, who never disappoints. This is a fun romp full of treachery that puts Conan on guard duty for a Zamorian noblewoman. A lot of characters here are fun to hate.

"Lords of the Falcon" - Savage Sword 116

This story was very fun to try to figure out its placement! The Brotherhood of the Falcon is back, and it's probably the best Falconer story. They say they've plotted for months, even years, to get their revenge on Conan, so it needs to take place a few months or years after their introduction in Savage Sword 84. This story also introduces a character named Gwal of Tranicos, an elderly lord of an unnamed province that Conan apparently helped him gain control of many years ago. Weirdly enough, I think there's an error here. Tranicos was a person of legend, not a place. Did Larry Yakata mistake the "Treasure of Tranicos" as being a treasure of a place called Tranicos rather than having belonged to a guy named Tranicos? The location in this story is left vague except for a poor village called Ekrima. Since the Falconers operate out of Zamora, it's probably there.

"The Winds of Aka-Gaar" - Savage Sword 117

Travelling across a desert (in Zamora, perhaps?), Conan searches for an oasis of magical youth at the behest of Queen Yanna. The Brotherhood of the Falcon make a brief appearance.

"The Haunters of Castle Crimson" - Savage Sword 12

Another story "freely adapted" from an REH character. This time it's from the Cormac Fitzgeoffrey story "The Slave-Princess." It explicitly takes place after "Black Colossus" and near the end of Conan's time as a Zuagir chief.

"The Fangs of the Serpent" - Savage Sword 65

This one begins in Zamboula and ends in Stygia. Once again, Conan is recognized as a chief of the Zuagirs. My main concern is why Gil Kane's art is so terrible in this issue. I grew up reading Gil Kane's work on Amazing Spider-Man and always loved it, so what happened when he came to Conan?

"Dominion of the Bat" - Savage Sword 76

Another Zuagir raider story, but it has almost no chronological clues. It could definitely be moved around to very little effect.

"The Iron Lions of the Kharamun" - Savage Sword 102

This story is set in the deserts south of Zamboula. Conan, explicitly a Zuagir chieftain at the start of the story, is betrayed in it and ends the story separating himself from the rest of the Zuagirs at the end of it, riding off alone. Is this the end of his Zuagir raider period?

"The Blood of the Gods" - Savage Sword 28

Conan is said to be formerly, but recently, a Zuagir chief. The blood rubies Conan is seeking in the story are mentioned by the character Alwazir to have been thrown into the Vilayet Sea a year prior, which could give Conan plausible reason to head to the Vilayet for what happens soon in "The Devil in Iron."

This is the end of Conan's Zuagir period. Conan usually returns to acting as a mercenary once he leaves the desert.

"The Slithering Shadow" - Savage Sword 20

"Drums of Tombalku" - Savage Sword 21

"Nekht Semerkeht" - Savage Sword 223

This story's title page begins, "Following his encounter with the horror in the red tower and the death-drums of Tombalku, Conan joins a caravan headed north..."

"Escape from the Temple" - Savage Sword 87

A backup story in SSOC 87. I actually hesitate to call it a story: it's really just a series of pinups done by artist Ernie Chan to tell vignettes of a story. It's a cool idea with good art, but as far as a narrative goes, it isn't even as deep as the illustrated poems in the back of so many issues. Basically the only chronological clue we get is that Conan is in Kush, so I'm setting this here where he's pretty far south. It could totally get moved around.

"The Devil in Iron" - Savage Sword 15

"The Crypt!" - Savage Sword 105

This awesome illustrated verse makes explicit reference to several Conan stories including "The Thing in the Crypt" and "The Devil in Iron." Conan is rescuing Octavia, a "Devil in Iron" supporting character.

The Flame Knife - Savage Sword 31 - 32

"The Toll" - Savage Sword 114

On the border of Iranistan and Vendhya, Conan is accosted to pay a bridge toll. He makes sure that someone pays, but it's not him.

"The White Tiger of Vendhya!" - Savage Sword 103

Conan is raiding Turan as a thorn in King Yezdigerd's side with the other raiders. It takes him to Vendhya.

"There Will Come a Dark Stranger" - Savage Sword 124

While Conan begins this story alone in Afghulistan, he gradually gains the admiration of the Afghuli hillmen, likely placing this one in a slot not long before "The People of the Black Circle" and "The Daughter of the God King."

"The Daughter of the God King" - Savage Sword 85

Conan is with the Afghulis, placing this one before "The People of the Black Circle."

"Revenge of the Sorcerer" - Savage Sword 86

Part two of "The Daughter of the God King."

"The Daughter of Raktavashi" - Savage Sword 234

In SSOC's penultimate issue, its greatest creators Roy and Big John begin their final two-parter together. Loosely based on the REH story, "The Daughter of Erlik Khan," Conan is reunited with some old allies in Vendhya during his time as hetman to the hillmen.

"A Rage of Goblins" - Savage Sword 235

This story, one of two in the final issue, concludes what was begun in "The Daughter of Raktavashi." There are some eight-foot-tall, lumbering hairy creatures in this story that worship Raktavashi's daughter and I think they're kind of adorable. They became my favorite part. As I noted in my article tracking the ups and downs of SSOC, this story ends with a bit of a thud, with Conan yawning and saying he'd like to get some sleep. The story is great, but kind of an odd ending to 235 issues of sword and sorcery action. It makes me wonder if the Savage Sword creative team knew it would be their last issue when Roy was scripting it.

"The People of the Black Circle" - Savage Sword 16 - 19

"The Road to Shondakar" - Savage Sword 228

This backup in issue 228 is an illustrated verse that's less than 20 lines long. Conan and his "Vendhyan belle" fight a winged warrior.

"...In the Eye of the Beholder" - Savage Sword 111

Conan passes through Iranistan.

"Star of Thamazhu" - Savage Sword 120

Conan passed through the city of Kadath in Koth. This issue by Larry Yakata is kind of strange. With both a wolfman and a lizard-like alien, it crosses pretty close to sci-fi. But it also has some familiar elements to it. In "Star of Thamazhu," Conan is warned to stay away from the city of Kadath, which he ignores and checks in at the inn. He is put on a quest to rescue a lowly dancing girl whose lover has gone insane. Conan enters a fortress to rescue the dancing girl, who is guarded by a hulking sentry named Vajeenu. Conan eventually rescues the dancing girl who reveals herself to actually be royalty and gives Conan the Star of Thamazhu, a precious gem, as reward. This all sounds eerily a lot like "Shadows in Zamboula." In that story, Conan is warned to stay away from the inn in Zamboula, which he ignores and checks in at the inn. He is put on a quest to rescue a lowly dancing girl whose lover has gone insane. Conan enters a fortress to rescue the dancing girl, who is guarded by a hulking sentry named Baal-Pteor. Conan eventually rescues the dancing girl who reveals herself to actually be royalty and gives Conan the Star of Khorala, a precious gem, as reward. Maybe it's just me.

"Master of the Broadsword" - Savage Sword 132

I'd like to be honest- I don't like the placement of this story, but there are very, very few places where I feel like this story fits. Conan is in the northern reaches of Khitai, very far away from where he usually gets to. In other Khitan adventures, Conan is on the western edges of the empire or on the seas southeast of the country. Conan has apparently traveled all the way there from Argos, according to character dialogue. This one just makes no sense at any point in Conan's travels. It's way too far.

"The Siren" - Savage Sword 101

With pirates swearing by Erlik and invoking the Tarim, this story sure seems like it should take place somewhere on the Vilayet Sea, but it mentions them being attacked by the Barachans, so it must be on the western sea. Conan is not actually buccaneering in this story, but does end the story at sea, so perhaps it fits right before his Barachan pirate period.

"The Blossoms of the Black Lotus" - Savage Sword 122

This issue is one of the more fun ones put together by Don Kraar and Ernie Chan. Don and Ernie design a gang hideout in the Stygian port city of Khemi for Conan to play rival gangs against one another. I place this right before his third pirate period for a few reasons. He ends the issue heading north on a ship toward Zingara. Additionally, he displays a level of cunning in this story akin to his skills in "The Treasure of Tranicos."

Here is the beginning of Conan's third pirate period, this time with the Barachans.

"The Sea Mage's Daughter" - Savage Sword 129

Explicitly a Barachan pirate story set off the coast of Zingara (and not a very good one, at that).

"Seventh Isle of Doom" - Savage Sword 136

A forgettable Barachan pirate story.

"Daughter of the Western Sea" - Savage Sword 213

This story is helped out by being just a few pages long. Conan accidentally invites a sea monster aboard his Barachan pirate ship while it's in disguise as a beautiful woman. I'm sure many of us would have made the same mistake.

"The Gem in the Tower" - Savage Sword 45

"Treasure" - Savage Sword 227

This illustrated verse, an adaption of a poem by Jim Neal, takes place right after Conan and the Barachan pirates leave Siptah's Isle in "The Gem in the Tower."

"The Pool of the Black One" - Savage Sword 22 - 23

"Plunder of Death Island" - Savage Sword 67

A Barachan pirate story that implies only a few weeks between the end of "The Pool of the Black One" and the beginning of this one.

"The Changeling Quest" - Savage Sword 73

Conan is off the coast of Stygia with the Barachans, having been pushed south by a Zingaran ambush. Like Conan's Zuagir raider period, there are a lot of Barachan pirate stories that don't have strong ties to one another or a wealth of chronological clues, so I've done my best to place them, but many could be moved around and not much would change.

"The Temple of the Twelve-Eyed Thing" - Savage Sword 75

A Barachan pirate story that introduces Bor'aqh Sharaq, the most Saturday-morning-cartoony that Conan villains ever get. He must have been favored of Michael Fleisher as, along with Wrarrl the Soul Eater, Bor'aqh becomes one of Fleishers most-revisited original villains.

"The Demon in the Dark" - Savage Sword 82 - 83

Takes place a few weeks after SSOC 75. More Bor'aqh Sharaq.

"The Jeweled Bird" - Savage Sword 92

Another Bor'aqh Sharaq story that explicitly takes place after "The Demon in the Dark." It opens with "Confounding all belief, HE LIVES!" referring to Sharaq. This time they give him a laser gun. Conan is still with the Barachans, in Zingara.

Conan the Buccaneer - Savage Sword 40 - 43

Roy Thomas adapts the de Camp and Carter novel Conan the Buccaneer across four issues.

"The Informer" - Savage Sword 99

Another Barachan pirate story without a whole lot of contextual clues as to where it may lay. Takes place in Shem.

"Fued of Blood" - Savage Sword 106

At the start of issue 106 in northern Argos, Conan is wanted for his activities as a Barachan pirate. It features the return of Bor'aqh Sha'raq.

"The Eyes of G'Bharr Rjinn!" - Savage Sword 107

A sequel to SSOC 106.

Savage Sword 189 - 206

When Roy Thomas returns to write Savage Sword for his second run, he mostly tells it in chronological order. Most of it is set within Conan's Barachan pirate period with other characters like Valeria, Strombanni, Black Zorano, Thulsa Doom, Zula and more. It gives Conan a home base of Port Tortage. He tells nearly twenty stories consecutively in this period, taking Conan from Khitai in "The Eye of the Storm" of #189 to "When Wizards Make War" in #206.

"Swords of Sukhmet" - Savage Sword 225

This story, featuring Valeria, is explicitly a "pulsating prequel" to "Red Nails." John Buscema returns as the artist.

"Red Nails" - Savage Tales of Conan 2 - 3

Conan and the Gods of the Mountain - Savage Sword 211 - 213, 215, 217

Following an adaption of Conan and the Spider God, Roy Thomas turns to adapt the 1993 novel Conan and the Gods of the Mountain, a direct sequel to "Red Nails." Unfortunately, it's really long in the tooth. This story is told over five issues, interrupted by other stories, and it would have been much stronger if he could have trimmed the fat.

"Black Cloaks of Ophir" - Savage Sword 68

This story says that Conan is not quite forty years of age, and also features a short piece of "A Probable Outline of Conan's Career" that implies Conan may go to Ophir after his Barachan pirate period, placing this one here. It's a good one and nobody ever talks about it!

"Reunion in Scarlet" - Savage Sword 127

I don't love the placement of this story, but I don't really have a better place to put it. Set on the Vilayet Sea, Conan is reunited with Valeria. Both these contextual clues mean it has to come after his Red Brotherhood days, and he has to know Valeria, but Conan doesn't ever seem to return as far east as the Vilayet after "The Devil in Iron." So I'm shrugging my shoulders here.

"Jewels of Gwahlur" - Savage Sword 25

"The Ivory Goddess" - Savage Sword 60

Here is the end of Conan's Barachan pirate episodes. Next, we see a few wandering stories before his time as an Aquilonian scout.

"The Armor of Zuulda Thaal" - Savage Sword 87

A Zuagir raider story. Originally, I figured that would place it with the others, earlier in the chronology. However, Conan mentions the Xuchotl dragon from "Red Nails" and the events of "The Temple of the Twelve-Eyed Thing," which means I guess he has to head up the Zuagirs after his pirate days and before his kingship? This story is one of Fleisher's better originals.

"The Fear of Crom" - Savage Sword 108

This little backup story is tough to place. Conan is acting as a mercenary for Argos as they lay siege to the Stygian port city of Khemi. I've placed it late because Conan seems so shrewd he's approaching genius levels of war prowess. Conan also seems pretty angry and cold.

"The Opponents" - Savage Sword 116

Still in Khemi, Conan is engaged in a fierce arm-wrestling competition. It's pretty funny.

"Homecoming" - Savage Sword 119

Conan returns to Cimmeria after many years away. I usually love Ernie Chan's art, but this issue might have my least-favorite Savage Sword cover of all time.

"The Crimson Citadel" - Savage Sword 141

No, not "The Scarlet Citadel." This story takes place on the border between Cimmeria and Vanaheim, but we don't have many clues other than that. Between the Scarlet Citadel, the Crimson Citadel, the red tower of "Drums of Tomalku," and the haunters of Castle Crimson, do you think its illegal in the Hyborian Age to make your fortress a color other than red? Maybe that's why Yara's ivory tower in "The Tower of the Elephant" was so feared.

"Secret of the Great Stone" - Savage Sword 123

Seems to take place in the snowy north without many further clues. I don't mean this as a dig at the issue, just an observation, but you cannot tell me that the witches in this story don't look like Bob's Burgers characters.

"Lady of the Silver Snows" - Savage Sword 74

This story takes place way up north, but exactly where is unspecified. It says that it's been "many years" since Conan was a young man and also states that he's crossed paths with Thoth-Amon. This is an absolutely phenomenal issue- definitely one of the best SSOC issues ever- with the dynamite work of Chris Claremont's writing and Val Mayerik's art.

"The Army of the Dead" - Savage Sword 110

Conan is far away in the snows of the north, but he is clearly not the young man of "The Frost-Giant's Daughter." Absent of any other contextual clues, I'm placing this one here because it works well alongside "Lady of the Silver Snows," but it's not the most solid of placements.

"Blind Vengeance" - Savage Sword 142

Conan visits a village seemingly in southern Aesir country where many people have had their eyes plucked out. It ends with him heading south for "warmer climes and warmer women."

"The Night of the Dark God" - Savage Tales of Conan 4

This one was adapted from "The Dark Man" by Robert E. Howard. It takes place on the Isle of Swords, which several online maps will place in Vanaheim. It shows many of the foes Conan has fought through the years (Taramis from "A Witch Shall Be Born," a gorgon from "Black Tears" or "The God in the Bowl," Yag-Kosha from "The Tower of the Elephant," and an ape beast from either "Black Colossus" or "Rogues in the House"). I'm only placing it before Conan's time in the Pitcish Wilderness because it has to be later in his career and he meets Picts in the story.

Savage Sword 144 - 150

Conan is crossing the Graaskal Mountains in Brythunia by himself when he runs into Red Sonja. Issue 144, "The Waiting Doom," and its sequel in 145 are some of Chuck Dixon's highlights. Conan then fights as a gladiator and military commander for Nemedia.

"The Dwellers Under the Tombs" - Savage Sword 224

This banger of a tale is penciled by John Watkiss, who was mostly a covers artist for Savage Sword. Adapted from a Cthulu Mythos story by Robert E. Howard with the same name, Conan has a love affair with an older woman and then visits some truly terrifying creatures that, as advertised, dwell under tombs. This story rocks. It's like if you gave everyone in Scooby-Doo a sword. Anyway, it takes place in Corinthia, with Conan seemingly a little bit older. He has great intuition (for example, seems drawn to help the town, but can't tell why) and is calm, collected, and smooth. He's still noticeably younger than the woman he is with romantically, but he doesn't seem like a young man when he was soldiering for Corinthia in his younger days.

"The Boon" - Savage Sword 116

I'm not usually a Don Kraar fan, but this backup story in SSOC116 hits pretty hard. Seemingly in Argos after defeat in a battle, Conan is in a military camp and bargains for the life of his friend Aristus. Conan references a friend saving his life "at the siege of Khemi, when we fought the Stygians," so this appears to be a quasi-sequel to SSOC 108's story "The Fear of Crom." It appears to take place much later than 108.

Here is the beginning of Conan's time in Aquilonia. First as a scout, then as king.

"Three Lives for N'Garthl" - Savage Sword 135

Conan is scouting for the Aquilonians, deep in the Pictish Wilderness. At the end of the story, Conan comes across a fort, which is unnamed other than being called a civilized border fort. Is this his first time at Fort Tuscelan? Does he walk in and ask for a job? Who knows...

"The Lost Legion" - Savage Sword 137

Conan and the mighty, but distasteful, XXI Legion of the Aquilonian army plunge deep into Pict country. Seal Team 6 they are not.

"Riddle of the Demuzaar" - Savage Sword 114

Conan, up in the Pictish Wilderness, seems to have lost his memory. As you may have guessed, there's some dark magic afoot.

"Blood and Honor" - Savage Sword 143

This Pictish Wilderness story could be moved around the other issues prior to "Beyond the Black River."

"Lair of the Lizard God" - Savage Sword 138

Fort Tuscelan stands, placing this story prior to "Beyond the Black River." Valeria shows up!

"Garden of Blood" - Savage Sword 139

Picking up where issue 138 left off, Conan is still with Valeria.

"The Girl of the Haunted Wood" - Savage Sword 140

Conan leaves Valeria behind as this story continues on from issue 139.

"Beyond the Black River" - Savage Sword 26 - 27

"The Dark Stranger" - Savage Sword 88

Another illustrated poem. I'm placing this one here for two thin reasons. One: Conan is carrying an Aquilonian broadsword rather than the "cold Hyrkanian steel" he so frequently refers to. Two: He's sullen after a loss of a battle, which could be the loss of Balthus at Fort Tuscelan, detailed in "Beyond the Black River."

"Mitra Defend Us" - Savage Sword 112

This short B story involves Conan with a priest of Mitra who's trying to evangelize in the frontier beyond the Black River, ultimately meeting the Picts in his holy(?) quest. The narration makes it sound as though the situation is dire and the Aquilonians are being pushed back, which makes it seem like this one takes place after "Beyond the Black River," not before it.

"Moon of Blood" - Savage Sword 46

"The Treasure of Tranicos" - Savage Sword 47 - 48

Conan the Liberator - Savage Sword 49 - 52

Roy adapts the novel Conan the Liberator in four issues.

"Wolves Beyond the Border" - Savage Sword 59

This is one of Howard's only Conan stories to not actually feature the big guy. It takes place during Conan's campaign against King Numedides, but we don't actually see him. It takes place concurrently with the novel Conan the Liberator.

"The Reign of Thulandra Thuu" - Savage Sword 214

Conan is referred to as the "newly-crowed king of Aquilonia" in this, placing it before "The Phoenix on the Sword." Issue 214 is one of several issues that has a seemingly futuristic robot animal on the cover. It works a lot better in the narrative than on the cover. I will say this robot demon horse looks a lot like our beloved Blucifer here in Denver.

"The Phoenix on the Sword"

"The Phoenix in the Shadow" - Savage Sword 227

The last of four short tales in issue 227, this sequel to "The Phoenix on the Sword" picks up just seconds after the end of the original, opening with the line, "I've still one more foe to slay!" The art by Fred Harper in this one is excellently cinematic.

"The Scarlet Citadel" - Savage Sword 30

The Hour of the Dragon - Savage Sword 8 - 10

The Return of Conan - King Conan 5 - 8

Here is the end of Conan's young kingship and we see a time jump of around 10 years past the birth of his children.

"The Witch of the Mists" - King Conan 1

"Challenge" - Savage Sword 93

An illustrated poem in the form of a letter to Thoth-Amon. This recaps the four times Conan and Thoth have crossed paths ("The God in the Bowl," Conan the Buccaneer, "The Treasure of Tranicos," and "The Phoenix on the Sword") and says that Conan's coming for Thoth's head. It's written from the perspective of Conan right after "The Witch of the Mists" since it mentions Thoth's plot against Conan's son Conn, seen in "Mists."

"Black Sphinx of Nebthu" - King Conan 2

"Red Moon of Zembabwei" - King Conan 3

"Shadows in the Skull" - King Conan 4

Conan of the Isles

"Death-Song of Conan the Cimmerian" - Savage Sword 8

"Death-Song" implies Conan's death, some time in his 60s or 70s. After that, there are obviously no more Conan stories to tell. Or are there? There are a few that jump ahead even into the modern day.

"Death's Dark Riders" - Savage Sword 219

Conan is flung into the early 17th century, where he meets Solomon Kane in the ruins of an Atlantean city called Negari. It's a sort-of sequel to the 1930 Solomon Kane two-parter called "The Moon of Skulls." It seems to borrow its title from the unfinished story "Death's Black Riders."

"Death's Dark Tower" - Savage Sword 220

The conclusion to the Solomon Kane team-up we saw in 219.

"Barbarians of the Border" - Savage Sword 200

This delightfully meta story celebrates not just 200 issues of Savage Sword, but also ol' Two-Gun Bob. This issue alternates between Conan in the Hyborian Age and a fictional adventure starring Robert E. Howard in February 1932.

"People of the Dark" - Savage Sword 6

An adaption of Robert E. Howard's "People of the Dark" that puts this decidedly in the Conan continuity. Though it features a character named Conan, most people separate it from the Cimmerian, considering him to be a prototype for the Conan we'd eventually see fully fleshed-out. However, this Conan of the Reavers is also our Conan of Cimmeria. It's really hard to say whether it would take place before or after the Robert E. Howard portions of Savage Sword 200, I'm going to just default to publishing date. "Barbarians of the Border" takes place in February 1932, and "People of the Dark" was first published in June 1932, so I'll slot this one in after it.

Stories that were impossible to place

There were a few stories told in Savage Sword that were just completely impossible to place. Unless I'm really missing something, they don't contain any contextual clues: Conan doesn't seem specifically young or old, there are no lines that indicate where the story takes place geographically, and there are no characters, items, or skills that give away a general time in Conan's life. Those are as follows:

"The Lady of the Tower" - Savage Sword 98

The backup story in SSOC 98 doesn't give any chronological clues about when or even where it takes place.

"The Gift" - Savage Sword 100

The backup story in SSOC 100 has Conan going to the "Yamal Peninsula," which is apparently a real peninsula in Siberia that's never appeared in any other Conan story. I suppose it would have to be far to the north/northeast of the Vilayet. There weren't any other clues that helped me place this one.

"The Dinner Guest" - Savage Sword 110

This completely wordless backup story has Conan unfortunately terrorizing a poor old couple's cabin in order to fend off some bandits. There are zero contextual clues about when or where it could take place other than being in a cabin in a temperate forest.

"A Quiet Place" - Savage Sword 113

No, not the John Krasinski movie. Conan's trying to get a good night's sleep at an inn, but where or when this takes place is as much your guess as it is mine.

"The Warlord of the Castle" - Savage Sword 115

This subpar story features Conan revealing a terrifying warlord to be, well... not an actual warlord. It gives no clues about where it takes place (looks like an arid edge of a forest) or when it takes place.

"The Haunters of Terror Tower" - Savage Sword 222

I'm sad that this story doesn't really have any way to place it chronologically, because it fucking rules. Malcolm Davis's dark, heavy linework makes this whole story look like it's composed entirely of 80s heavy metal album covers.

Conclusion

Well, that's my best attempt. You may noticed that there are still about 30 issues missing, which I don't currently own. I'll continue to update this page.

As I said last time, this was more of a nerdy chronology exercise than any kind of suggestion to read in this order. I've never been a fan of complicated comic book reading orders; they're unnecessary and add very little, like this one would.

Are there any clues that I missed in these stories? I'd love to refine this if there's something that I haven't taken into account. Let me know in the comments, if so.

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