Conan the Barbarian #4 (Marvel: 1971) | The Tower of the Elephant! | 8
Explicit content warning
05/26/23 • 36 min
Brace yourself for Conan’s deadliest and most thrilling adventure yet! In this episode of Hither Came Conan, Steeven dissects Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian #4 (1971)—a groundbreaking adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s classic tale, The Tower of the Elephant.
Join Conan as he enters a decadent city of thieves and dreamers, where danger lurks in every shadow. Venturing into the legendary tower said to hold unimaginable treasures—and curses—Conan teams up with the enigmatic Taurus of Nemedia. What lies inside is more than gold and jewels; it’s a secret that could shake the foundations of reality itself. Foes both mortal and otherworldly stand in his path, but with sword in hand and savage cunning, Conan seeks to defy fate, death, and even the gods.
Fueled by Roy Thomas’ faithful storytelling and Barry Windsor-Smith’s visually stunning art, this episode explores the perfect blend of high adventure, cosmic horror, and brutal heroics. Steeven’s enthusiastic breakdown captures the mythic wonder of this iconic tale, while comparing it to other adaptations and the original prose.
Enter the Tower of the Elephant if you dare—but remember, what you find might change you forever!
Enjoy!
Mike's Amazing World of Comics
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
JOIN STEEVEN ORR ELSE BEYOND FOR EARLY AND AD-FREE EPISODES
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FEEDBACK COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS:
Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @SteevenOrrElse
Spoutible - @SteevenOrrElse
Threads - @SteevenOrrElse
Bluesky - @steevenorrelse.bsky.social
Instagram - @SteevenOrrElse
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hither-came-conan/donations
Brace yourself for Conan’s deadliest and most thrilling adventure yet! In this episode of Hither Came Conan, Steeven dissects Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian #4 (1971)—a groundbreaking adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s classic tale, The Tower of the Elephant.
Join Conan as he enters a decadent city of thieves and dreamers, where danger lurks in every shadow. Venturing into the legendary tower said to hold unimaginable treasures—and curses—Conan teams up with the enigmatic Taurus of Nemedia. What lies inside is more than gold and jewels; it’s a secret that could shake the foundations of reality itself. Foes both mortal and otherworldly stand in his path, but with sword in hand and savage cunning, Conan seeks to defy fate, death, and even the gods.
Fueled by Roy Thomas’ faithful storytelling and Barry Windsor-Smith’s visually stunning art, this episode explores the perfect blend of high adventure, cosmic horror, and brutal heroics. Steeven’s enthusiastic breakdown captures the mythic wonder of this iconic tale, while comparing it to other adaptations and the original prose.
Enter the Tower of the Elephant if you dare—but remember, what you find might change you forever!
Enjoy!
Mike's Amazing World of Comics
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
JOIN STEEVEN ORR ELSE BEYOND FOR EARLY AND AD-FREE EPISODES
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FEEDBACK COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS:
Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @SteevenOrrElse
Spoutible - @SteevenOrrElse
Threads - @SteevenOrrElse
Bluesky - @steevenorrelse.bsky.social
Instagram - @SteevenOrrElse
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hither-came-conan/donations
Previous Episode
Conan the Barbarian #3 (Marvel: 1970) | The Twilight of the Grim Grey God! | 7
Prepare to plunge into the heart of war and myth as Conan strides into a world teetering on the brink of destruction! In this episode of Hither Came Conan, Steeven unpacks the epic tale from Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian #3 (1970), a story charged with divine fury, treachery, and battlefields soaked in blood.
Conan’s chains become weapons of vengeance as he joins a brutal war between Hyperborea and Brythunia—two kingdoms entwined in a deadly dance of betrayal and conquest. Enslaved, furious, and armed with his barbarian grit, the young Cimmerian sets out to carve revenge into the ranks of his oppressors. Standing in his way are scheming commanders, enchanted armor, and the ominous presence of the Grim Gray God, Borri, whose fate hangs in the balance as even gods can die.
Fueled by Roy Thomas’ masterful adaptation of Robert E. Howard's mythic tale The Gray God Passes and Barry Windsor-Smith’s art that burns brighter with every panel, this issue roars with all the raw, savage power you’d expect from Conan at his bloodiest. With insights, humor, and a touch of philosophical musing about the mortality of gods, Steeven delivers an unmissable breakdown of one of Conan’s most haunting adventures.
Come for the barbarism; stay for the mythic spectacle!
Enjoy!
Mike's Amazing World of Comics
https://magazinesandmonsters.com/
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
JOIN STEEVEN ORR ELSE BEYOND FOR EARLY AND AD-FREE EPISODES
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FEEDBACK COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS:
Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @SteevenOrrElse
Spoutible - @SteevenOrrElse
Threads - @SteevenOrrElse
Bluesky - @steevenorrelse.bsky.social
Instagram - @SteevenOrrElse
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hither-came-conan/donations
Next Episode
Conan the Barbarian #5 (Marvel: 1971) | Zukala's Daughter | 9
Prepare your steel and summon your courage because in this electrifying episode, Conan the Barbarian faces his most surreal challenge yet! Host Steeven Or Else dives sword-first into Conan the Barbarian #5, a 1971 Marvel masterpiece by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith.
In this issue, Conan tangles with Zukala, a flamboyant masked wizard with questionable fashion sense, and his daughter Zephyra, who doubles as a deadly tiger! With a demon tax collector prowling the land and a gaudy dragon-hilted sword on the line, Conan must navigate betrayals, sorcery, and a prophecy of doom that could spell disaster for our favorite barbarian.
Marvel as Conan shatters masks, slays demons, and casually loots gold like the unapologetic force of nature he is. Steeven takes you on a raucous page-by-page journey, blending lore, laughs, and irreverent critiques of art that sees demons and tigers defy all color consistency. Plus, hear Steeven’s musings on Marvel’s early attempts to mix superheroes with Hyborian fantasy—and the eternal mystery of Conan’s "costume."
This isn’t just an episode; it’s an odyssey into the heart of Hyborian chaos! So grab your cloak, dodge the tiger, and join us for a roaring good time. And remember—never underestimate Conan’s brains, brawn, or ability to walk off with the spoils.
Enjoy!
Mike's Amazing World of Comics
The Cromcast Season 18, Episode 9: Conan in Comics with Jim Zub!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
JOIN STEEVEN ORR ELSE BEYOND FOR EARLY AND AD-FREE EPISODES
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FEEDBACK COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS:
Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @SteevenOrrElse
Spoutible - @SteevenOrrElse
Threads - @SteevenOrrElse
Bluesky - @steevenorrelse.bsky.social
Instagram - @SteevenOrrElse
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hither-came-conan/donations
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/hither-came-conan-249029/conan-the-barbarian-4-marvel-1971-the-tower-of-the-elephant-8-30325924"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to conan the barbarian #4 (marvel: 1971) | the tower of the elephant! | 8 on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy