Kull, the Conqueror #9

This July 1973 Marvel issue plunges the barbarian king into a desperate, outnumbered brawl, as the cover — penciled by Marie Severin and inked by John Severin — depicts Kull swinging an axe above a churning mass of helmeted soldiers while a red-haired woman stands at his back amid a storm of drawn blades. A speech bubble crying "Slay him! Slay King Kull!" and the story banner "The Sword and the Scorpion!" make it clear the odds against him are long and the stakes couldn't be higher. Sword-and-sorcery fans who appreciate bold, kinetic storytelling will find this one hard to pass up.