BY CROM THE BARBARIAN!

It's not often that a comic book character that appeared in only three stories got so much traction. In this case, it's one by the name of Crom the Barbarian. The name rings with some justified familiarity as Crom is the Cimmerian god that Conan occasionally issues both oaths and curses. The comic book Crom even has a dark-haired partner named Tanit which isn't too far away from Bêlit, and both were coincidentally queens. Crom does his own oath-swearing, and as he can't likely swear to himself, so he instead directs his to the Norse gods Thor and Freya.

The series is written by prolific author Gardner F. Fox and it is likely that he that floated this story idea to the editors at Avon, who first published them in OUT OF THIS WORLD #1 and STRANGE WORLDS #1-2. John Giunta was the artist.

Crom chronology:

1. OUT OF THIS WORLD #1 (June 1950) "Crom the Barbarian!"
2. STRANGE WORLDS #1 (November 1950) "Crom the Barbarian in The Spider God of Akka!"
3. STRANGE WORLDS #2 (April 1951) "The Giant From Beyond"

Two of the stories were recycled in Avon pulp digests as a part of a color comics insert:

• OUT OF THIS WORLD ADVENTURES #1 (Avon, July 1950 - reprints STRANGE WORLDS #1)
• OUT OF THIS WORLD ADVENTURES #2 (Avon, December 1950 - reprints OUT OF THIS WORLD #1)

But wait -- that's not all! Crom was resurrect by AC comics in their 1990 all-reprint issue, BARBARIANS & BEAUTIES #1. Published in 1990, it included the third and last Crom story, "The Giant From Beyond!" from Avon's STRANGE WORDS #2.

And finally, if you are an underground comics fan, in 1972 Bob Sidebottom and California Comics (San Francisco, CA) published four issues of BARBARIAN COMICS. While not related to Fox and Giunta's hero, issues 2-3 contained a barbarian strip titled "Crom" (underground comics were not apologetic as to where they derived their material!). I'll be posting these issues soon.

NOTE: Crom the Barbarian has recently been re-introduced to old fans -- and hopefully some new ones -- with the continuing story of the short-lived hero. Go HERE to visit the website. 

Gardner Fox wasn't done with writing about sword and sorcery, either. Besides writing the scripts for scads of comic books, a decade later he wrote a number of books concerning sword-wielding heroes; the Llarn books were a ERB-inspired off-world adventures and Kothar and Kyrik were red-blooded sword and sorcery tales in the tradition of REH and Lin Carter.

Llarn

   1. Warrior of Llarn (1964)

   2. Thief of Llarn (1966)

Kothar

   1. Barbarian Swordsman (1969)

   2. Kothar of the Magic Sword (1969)

   3. Kothar and the Demon Queen (1969)

   4. Kothar and the Conjurer's Curse (1970)

   5. Kothar and the Wizard Slayer (1970)

Kyrik

   1. Warlock Warrior (1976)

   2. Kyrik Fights the Demon World (1975)

   3. Kyrik and the Wizard's Sword (1976)

   4. Kyrik and the Lost Queen (1976)

Here are the three Crom stories published by Avon Comics:

THE SAVAGE SWORD OF SYBIL DANNING

In the 1980s, women's roles in fantasy films began to evolve; the characters were bolder, tougher and not willing to take shit from anybody -- especially men. In this respect, the fantasy genre heralded some of the earliest examples of strong females. One actress was on the leading edge of this trend, Sybil Danning. The statuesque Danish beauty starred in numerous roles that proved women could be just as tough as men.

Danning appeared in many action, sci-fi and fantasy films during her heyday. She also appeared as werewolf queen Stirba in HOWLING II (aka, YOUR SISTER IS A WEREWOLF). She was not reluctant to appear in her altogether in front of the camera, as her photo spread in PLAYBOY attests.

Now 76, Danning hasn't appeared in a film in a dozen years or so, but she does come out of retirement occasionally for bit parts and fan conventions.

In 1983, AC Comics' BLACK DIAMOND stars Sybil Danning as a model and secret agent. It was intended as a film, but, like so many others, never got out of the planning stage. Script and art is by Bill Black.

SYBIL DANNING GALLERY