Conan the Barbarian #43

Gil Kane's cover for this October 1974 issue delivers an immediate jolt of dread: a bare-chested Conan scrambles desperately beneath the massive, coiling legs of a monstrous creature, while a fallen red-haired woman — Red Sonja, She-Devil with a Sword — lies vulnerable at its feet, and scattered bones and a skull hint at those who weren't so lucky. The banner promises "Tower of Blood!" along with the long-awaited return of Red Sonja, making this a compelling pairing of Marvel's most formidable sword-and-sorcery duo. Inked with gritty atmosphere by Dan Adkins, it's a striking snapshot of the Hyborian Age at its most harrowing.