Conan the Barbarian #90

Deep in the "Cavern of the Giant Kings," Conan holds a torch aloft and grips a blade while Belit stands armed at his side — and looming behind them is the massive, grasping stone hand of some ancient giant idol, its grotesque face leering with glowing red eyes, as bats hang ominously in the shadows above. The cover dialogue captures a perfect moment of dramatic irony: Conan dismisses the ancient curse as nothing but bats, while the towering supernatural threat behind him suggests otherwise. John Buscema's pencils and inks deliver that unmistakable blend of sword-and-sorcery muscle and eerie atmosphere that made this 1978 Marvel series such a satisfying read.