Conan the Barbarian #18 (Marvel: 1972) | The Thing in the Temple! | 26

The conclusion to the epic Gods of Bal-Sagoth saga brings us betrayal, sorcery, and monsters in Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian #18! Conan and Fafnir, our Barbarian Bros, return to defend Aala, the self-proclaimed sea goddess, only to be thrust into a whirlwind of chaos, deception, and fiery destruction.

Steeven takes you through every thrilling moment: Conan battling a sneaky, sleep-spell monster, Fafnir squaring off against a lavender-trunked man-bat, and the two cutting a bloody swath through collapsing temples and a city descending into madness. Aala’s thirst for power leads to her downfall, but not before she orders Conan and Fafnir executed. With Gothan dead, the volcano erupting, and the island sinking into ruin, our barbarian duo barely escape to a new adventure aboard a Turanian warship.

Steeven dissects Gil Kane’s dynamic art, Roy Thomas’ adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s original story, and the narrative’s complex mix of loyalty, vengeance, and survival. Whether you’re here for the monster battles, Conan’s unyielding bromance, or the sheer joy of seeing a man-bat in tiny purple shorts, this episode delivers all the sword-and-sorcery mayhem you could ask for.

Don’t miss this explosive finale!

Crom demands your ears—or face the Thing in the Temple yourself!

Conan the Barbarian #18: The Thing in the Temple by Roy Thomas, Gil Kane, Dan Adkins, and Artie Simek was published by Marvel Comics in June of 1972.

Enjoy!

The Gods of Bal-Sagoth

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