Conan the King #41

Even a king can be brought low by sorcery — and this July 1987 Marvel issue puts that truth front and center, with a grimacing, dark-robed sorcerer crackling with vivid pink magical energy looming over a clearly agonized Conan, who strains against the mystical assault with every ounce of his formidable strength. The cover by penciler Mike Docherty and inker Armando Gil crackles with tension, the stark black background throwing the supernatural confrontation into sharp relief. "The Blood of the Serpent" promises exactly the kind of sword-and-sorcery stakes that made this series a reliable monthly highlight.