Adding SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN into the chronology

12/4/2024

About halfway through reading through every Conan story, I had the idea of trying to place every original Savage Sword of Conan story into the chronology to see where they fit. Savage Sword is my first love of Conan: it's where I was introduced to him and it's probably my favorite format to read his adventures.

Published by Marvel Comics from 1974 to 1995, Savage Sword was a black-and-white bronze age comic series. It was magazine-sized to skirt the restrictive Comics Code Authority's regulations on violence and adult content, and it's so good. I love this comic. It has some of the best creators of the 70s and 80s working on it: shepherded by Roy Thomas for the first 60 or so issues and then mainly by Michael Fleisher for the years after that, Savage Sword mostly adapted stories of an older Conan. While there are several early stories that made it to the mag, almost everything after "Hawks Over Shem" was adapted.

Many of the stories were originals, and those are the ones I'm going to try to fit into our chronology here. Some of them were adapted from Robert E. Howard's historical short stories and poems. Some adapted Conan pastiches. Some were truly original Conan stories from the likes of Barry Windsor-Smith, Roy Thomas, Chuck Dixon, Chris Claremont, and Michael Fleisher. I don't own every issue of the comic- far from it. But I own the first 11 omnibuses published by Dark Horse, so I have a little more than the first 100 issues. They include a few other titles in them occasionally like Savage Tales of Conan the Barbarian.

I could be way off on some of these, and others I'm pretty confident of my placement. I looked at a number of factors to try to place stories:

Explicit chronological clues like a line referring to past events or a place 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 thief or a pirate with the Red Brotherhood.
Conan's characterization. Does he seem experienced and shrewd? Or young 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."

It seems like Conan's Zuagir raider period and his time as a Barachan pirate are particular favorites among Savage Sword writers seeing as a disproportionate amount of stories refer to Conan as a Zuagir chief or a Barachan buccaneer. I'm assuming that's because they're kind of flexible roles that could happen over a large swath of the map. I sort of thought that there would be more stories in these issues about his time with Aquilonia (either as a scout or as a king) or over in Vendhya around "The People of the Black Circle," but I was wrong on both accounts. There are very few original King Conan stories in these first 100 issues.

Below is my best attempt at fitting them into Conan's career. 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, but I'm certainly not trying to collapse all Conan comic material into one timeline or anything like that.

Let me know what you think!

The Conan Chronology + Savage Sword of Conan's first 100 issues

SSOC adds two stories of Conan's early life before leaving Cimmeria before adapting several of the L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter stories that detail Conan's earliest career events.

"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.

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

"Legions of the Dead" - Savage Sword 39

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

The thief stories begin with "The God in the Bowl."

"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

"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.

"The Sorcerer and the Soul" - Savage Sword 53

This is part one of their adaption of Andrew Offutt's Conan and the Sorcerer, which takes place right after "The Tower of the Elephant."

"The Stalker Amid the Sands" - Savage Sword 54

Part two of their adaption of Conan and the Sorcerer.

"Black Lotus and Yellow Death" - Savage Sword 55

Part three of their adaption of Conan and the Sorcerer.

"The Sword of Skelos" - Savage Sword 56

This is part one of their adaption of Andrew Offutt's The Sword of Skelos, which takes place right after Conan and the Sorcerer.

"The Eye of Erlik" - Savage Sword 57

Part two of their adaption of The Sword of Skelos.

"For the Throne of Zamboula" - Savage Sword 58

Part three of their adaption of The Sword of Skelos.

"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" - Conan the Barbarian 8

"The Hall of the Dead" is the end of the thief stories. Other than one small digression in SSOC 91's B story, the Turanian mercenary stories begin immediately.

"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 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 right 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" - 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.

"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.

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

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

The first issue of Savage Sword is pretty interesting- it actually takes place within the timeline 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. So it doesn't actually fit into this timeline, but if it did, it would go here.

"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.

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

"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,” but doesn’t seem to take place in the east, more likely a Hyborian nation, 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.

"Queen of the Black Coast" marks the beginning of Conan's first pirate period. His first pirate crew is aboard the Tigress with Belit.

"Queen of the Black Coast" - Conan the Barbarian 58 - 59

"The Leopard Men of Darfar" - Savage Sword 97

This story takes place during Conan's time with Belit, so if I had a way to segment "Queen of the Black Coast" on a page, I would. 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 (not after) "Queen of the Black Coast."

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

After "The Snout in the Dark," we move into a period of Conan's life unseen in the original REH canon where he acts as a mercenary for various city-states in Corinthia.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"Death Dwarves of 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."

"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.

"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.

"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 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.

"The Slithering Shadow" - Savage Sword 20

"Drums of Tombalku" - Savage Sword 21

"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 Flame Knife - Savage Sword 31 - 32

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

"Black Cloaks of Ophir" - Savage Sword 68

This story says that it takes place almost ten years after "Queen of the Black Coast," meaning it needs to be set some time in Conan's mid-30s(ish?). Other than that, I'm not confident about its placement. It's a fairly inconsequential story, so to place it as a halfway point between Vendhya and the Western Ocean works as a decent waypoint.

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

"The Gem in the Tower" - Savage Sword 45

"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.

Bor'aqh motherfucking Sharaq

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

A Barachan pirate story that introduces Bor'aqh Sharaq, who sucks. I know this is all about the chronology of these stories and not about reviewing them, but I don't want to refrain. I hate this dude. He is the dweebiest, least-believable, most-Saturday-morning-cartoon villain in all of the Conan canon. He is my nemesis.

"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. I really wish he hadn't. This time they give him a laser gun. Conan is still with the Barachans, in Zingara.

"A Dream of Blood" - Savage Sword 40

Part one of Roy Thomas's adaption of de Camp and Carter's Conan the Buccaneer, which takes place during his Barachan pirate period.

"The Quest for the Cobra Crown" - Savage Sword 41

Part two of Roy Thomas's adaption of Conan the Buccaneer.

"The Devil-Tree of Gamburu" - Savage Sword 42

Part three of Roy Thomas's adaption of Conan the Buccaneer.

"King Thoth-Amon" - Savage Sword 43

The fourth and final part of Roy Thomas's adaption of Conan the Buccaneer.

"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.

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

"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.

"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- maybe the best I've ever read- with the dynamite work of Chris Claremont's writing and Val Mayerik's art.

"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.

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

"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."

"Moon of Blood" - Savage Sword 46

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

"When Madness Wears the Crown" - Savage Sword 49

Part one of Roy Thomas's adaption of the de Camp & Carter novel Conan the Liberator. Interestingly, Savage Sword 46 through 52 all follow each other chronologically, a run of seven issues in a row, which is higher than most others.

"When Madness Wears the Crown" - Savage Sword 50

Part two of Roy Thomas's adaption of the novel Conan the Liberator.

"Satyrs' Blood" - Savage Sword 51

Part three of Roy Thomas's adaption of the novel Conan the Liberator.

"The Crown and the Carnage" - Savage Sword 52

The fourth and final part of Roy Thomas's adaption of the novel Conan the Liberator.

"Wolves Beyond the Border" - Savage Sword 59

"The Phoenix on the Sword"

"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

"People of the Dark" - Savage Sword 6

An adaption of Robert E. Howard's "People of the Dark" that puts it decidedly in the Conan continuity. Because it takes place in modern times and only flashes back to the Hyborian Age, it's easily the last story in the comic chronology.

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.

Well, there you have it, my long-as-fuck best guess as to the continuity of the first 100 issues of Savage Sword. Would I recommend using this as a reading order? Absolutely not. I've been reading comics for 23 years, and I've just never gotten into reading orders. I'd much rather say that you should grab one of the cool new Titan hardcover omnibuses or the several versions of trade paperbacks that are out there and read out of order.

If you think I've misjudged any (or many!) of these, hit me up with a comment, I'd love to hear others' thoughts.

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