The Savage Sword of Conan #148

Doug Beekman's painted cover for issue #148 is a visceral showcase of Conan at his most ferocious — the Barbarian towers over a swirling mass of demonic, horned creatures amid a backdrop of roaring flame, battle-axe raised high in both hands as enemies close in from every side. The composition pulses with heat and chaos, perfectly suited to a story titled "Besieger of Cities." This May 1988 Marvel magazine entry, with interior work by writer Charles Dixon and artist Gary Kwapisz, promises the kind of sword-and-sorcery mayhem that keeps fans coming back to this long-running black-and-white series.