The Savage Sword of Conan #72

Joe Jusko's painted cover for this January 1982 black-and-white magazine is a gripping showcase of Conan at bay — muscles coiled, daggers raised, standing his ground on a stone platform as a horde of pale, ghoulish creatures closes in from every direction and a green reptilian beast lunges from above. The contrast between the barbarian's warm, defiant figure and the cold, writhing mass surrounding him makes for a genuinely arresting image. Inside, Bruce Jones scripts "The Colossus of Shem" with art by John Buscema and inks by Ernie Chan — a formidable creative lineup for any sword-and-sorcery fan.