The Savage Sword of Conan #111

Steve Hickman's cover for this April 1985 issue is a swirling fever dream of predatory power — Conan stands his ground at the center of a churning mass of tigers, sword raised as the great cats surge and twist around him in every direction. The rich amber and gold tones give the whole composition an almost molten intensity, with the Cimmerian's defiant stance making it clear he has no intention of yielding to the odds. Inside, Michael Fleisher and Gary Kwapisz take the Barbarian into the world of "The Mud Men of Keshan," promising the kind of dark, sword-and-sorcery adventure that made Savage Sword the go-to magazine format for Conan fans in 1985.