The Savage Sword of Conan #123

This April 1986 issue of Marvel's long-running black-and-white magazine delivers a cover by Ernie Chan that earns every penny of its price — Conan stands at the center of a churning nightmare, sword raised against a massive winged demon-creature while serpents, clawed beasts, and grotesque monsters press in from every direction. The sheer density of chaos surrounding the Barbarian makes the scene feel genuinely overwhelming, with Chan's inks giving every scale and fang a brutal, textured weight. Inside, writer Larry Yakata and artist Mike Docherty bring "Secret of the Great Stone" to life — a title that promises mystery and sorcery to complement all that hard-won steel.