The Savage Sword of Conan #99

A towering, skull-adorned dark sorcerer dominates this cover by Joe Jusko, arms spread wide as he looms over a muscular Conan — dagger in hand — and a captive woman flanking him on either side, both seemingly held in the grip of some sinister throne. It's a brooding, atmospheric image that captures the sword-and-sorcery menace Robert E. Howard's world does so well, with Jusko's painted style lending every shadow and skull real weight. Issue #99 of Marvel's black-and-white magazine series delivers that unmistakable Hyborian dread, setting the stage for Jim Owsley's story "The Informer" with art by Stan Woch and inks by Ned Sonntag.