Conan: The Lord of the Spiders #2

The second chapter of Marvel's three-part "Lord of the Spiders" arc puts Conan front and center in a striking 1998 cover by Stefano Raffaele and Ralph Cabrera — the Cimmerian stands bound in chains, muscles straining, gripping a curved blade while a mysterious robed figure lurks in the shadows behind a burning brazier. That brooding, firelit composition perfectly captures the tension hinted at by the story title "Slave of the Lotus," suggesting Conan is caught between captivity and defiance. With Roy Thomas scripting and Raffaele on interior art, this mid-series installment promises the blend of sorcery and sword-swinging action that makes Hyborian-age adventure so satisfying.