Conan - Lord of the Mount

British publisher Titan Books began licensing Robert E. Howard's Conan character from Heroic Signatures in 2022. The publisher has been very active in printing a new series of Conan the Barbarian comics and The Savage Sword of Conan magazine. In addition, the publisher has thrust the character into novels and novellas like S.M. Stirling's Blood of the Serpent. In 2023 the publisher launched a series of ebook short stories dedicated to Conan and other characters like Solomon Kane and Belit titled Heroic Legends. The first of the stories was Conan: Lord of the Mount, published in September 2023 as an ebook and authored by Stephen Graham Jones (Night of the Mannequins, I Was a Teenage Slasher).

In this 23-page story, Conan awakens as a cow is licking his face. He has no clear memory of what has happened to him other than he was engaged in battle with the Two Kings' army. A cattle farmer named Jen Ro is nearby and he explains that he thought Conan was another sacrifice to something called Lord of the Mount. Jen Ro then uses some sort of magical black lotus to cut a piece of steak from a live cow. Weird. Just weird.

Jen Ro advises Conan that if he will ride with him and the cattle through a mountain pass then he will bring him to the fabled village of Trinnecerl where “your cup will never run dry”. The catch is that Conan will kill this aggravating creature deemed Lord of the Mount. 

The duo venture through the pass and Conan fights the creature(s). He learns that Jen Ro had a reason for leading him to the creature and the reader is left with this very forgettable story. 

Needless to say, this may be one of the worst Conan stories I've read this far. It was shocking to me considering that Stephen Graham Jones, a quality writer, wrote this kind of uninspired drivel. While I've read some mixed reviews of these new Titan shorts, I had no idea that it would be this underwhelming. Or, how someone like Jones became involved in this. He clearly has no understanding of the Conan character. An example would be in this scene when the creature claws Conan's stomach: “Conan screamed, rolled away, and when he came down it was to nearly impale himself on the faint purple horns of a long-dead cow or bull.” Two words - “Conan screamed”. That doesn't happen. 

Conan's dialogue and mannerisms fail to match what fans have come to expect from the mighty Cimmerian. Granted, every author has a unique perspective on the characteristics and traits, but they should still have a uniform scope to preserve the integrity of the character and series. Despite the identification issues, the story just isn't that interesting. 

Conan: Lord of the Mount is nothing short of abysmal. Even at the $2 price point it isn't worth the pixels it possesses.

The Vendetta

Marvin Albert (1924-1996) was a paperback pioneer whose writing career spanned over five decades, multiple genres and a handful of pseudonyms, including Nick Quarry. The Vendetta (1973) was his attempt to capitalize on the popularity of The Godfather.

The year is 1921, and prohibition has outlawed liquor in the USA, but that’s not stopping the good people of the (unnamed, but certainly New York) city’s Little Italy from enjoying a libation or two. Especially at an Italian restaurant where humble everyman Paolo Regubuto, age 30, waits tables. When a couple of liquor salesmen come into the restaurant looking to supply Paolo’s restaurant with bootleg alcohol from the Irish mob, he politely declines the men in favor of his own Italian supplier.

To send a message, the rejected salesmen return that night and explode Paolo’s restaurant with dynamite. This hospitalizes Paolo while killing his wife and kids who are in the basement apartment. Rather than sparking a mob war, no one seems to care much about Paolo, his family or his restaurant. If Paolo wants justice, he’ll need to find it himself.

Thus The Vendetta is born.

Things get extremely violent as he hunts the men directly and indirectly responsible for his family’s death. I’m serious here. This isn’t for the weak-of-stomach. Paolo also puts together a crew of young men from the neighborhood to help him in his crusade. The author essentially took the model of a violent war against the mafia adventure paperback, and placed it in a Godfather wrapper - and it works.

Paolo hunting and killing mafia bosses is the best part of the novel, but there’s also quite a bit about the conflicts between mob factions seeking control of bootlegging that was far less fascinating. But if you’re into underworld power struggle stories, you’ll probably enjoy it just fine.

But overall The Vendetta is a winner, and men’s adventure paperback fans will find a lot to enjoy in this thin, well-written novel. Recommended. 

Satan's Mate

There was at least three George Smith's writing fiction that we like in the mid 20th century. The G.H. Smith I'm referring to in this review is George Henry Smith, a prolific author that produced a number of novels across multiple genres including sleaze. My first experience with Smith is Satan's Mate, a 1960 paperback originally published by Newsstand Library.

Satan's Mate is set in a small backwoods town in the swamps of Louisiana. A guy named Robert once lived here with his brother, but due to a combination of things he left, became married, and started a new life. However, months ago his wife left him and Robert became a vagabond drifter. He is now back in town to make amends with his brother, the town's longstanding Baptish preacher.

The town is operated by a wealthy, sleazy, land baron named Guy. Guy runs the show and controls the sheriff and deputies. As the book begins he has just finished leading a pack of vigilantes into the swamp to lynch an African-American man. This is a stark warning to the reader that there are no trials in this town, just executions. However, the lynched victim leaves behind a sister that begins planning her revenge. 

When Robert gets to town he meets Guy's wife Velma, a very attractive sexpod that is begging for a romp. Robert is happy to give it to her. Velma latches on to her new lover and sees him as her meal ticket to get out of this town and away from Guy. Robert just wants away from Velma. 

Guy sees the arrival of Robert as the perfect opportunity to kill his political rival, which coincidentally is Robert's brother, and to kill a few other people he doesn't care much for. To make it a bit more tidy - just in case the FBI comes knocking about all the lynching - he will kill his enemies and blame the massacre on the newcomer Robert. Smart plan. Along the way there are more murders and soon Robert, Velma, and another tramp are in the swamp trying to avoid Guy and a posse of vigilantes. Thus, the narrative's second half features the chaser and chased across the swamp to avoid death.

At 127, pages Satan's Mate is an easy breezy read that was quite enjoyable. If you are familiar with swamp noir as well as the Gothic Plantation or Slave books written during this time then you will totally enjoy it. Beware there are plenty of racial slurs against African-Americans and Hispanics. This is unfortunately a part of vintage 20th century fiction that we have to navigate through. 

I will state further that if you go online and search for this book it comes up as lesbian-fiction. I'm not sure where that stigma came from, but it isn't this novel. It is your typical crime-noir that just happened to published by a company with a reputation for sleaze. 

Get a copy HERE

Deathlands #8 - Ice and Fire

The Deathlands series continues to be one of my favorites of the post-apocalyptic era of men's fiction of the 1970s-1990s. I have a lot of series installments to get through, which probably won't occur in my lifetime. But, I continue to plunge forward with two or three installments each year. After the success of the the seventh installment, Dectra Chain, I was anxious to see where the series travels next. 

Ice and Fire is an unusual series entry as the main characters are within a redoubt for over 100 pages. Typically, series fare positions the characters in the first chapter leaving a redoubt and then determining their whereabouts. In this novel, the group emerge into a spacious redoubt complete with running water, a surplus of food, comfortable showers, and a quality of life that few have seen in the Deathlands. But, there is also a reasoning behind the extended stay.

Within this redoubt is a cryogenics chamber housing a number of frozen people. Hesitantly, the group release the pressure locks and find that most of the humans inside are now skeletons after experiencing over 100 years of frosty hibernation. However, the group luck out and find an intact living human being in Rick Ginsberg. He is a young man who worked for the U.S. military and was a redoubt specialist. But, over the course of his long frozen nap he has forgotten what the redoubts are and how to use them – specifically how to plan locations for the redoubts to transport humans. Rick learns the awful fate of the planet after the nuclear stew and joins the group in a non-combatant role as they emerge from the redoubt to discover they are in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and that most of California is basically at the bottom of the Pacific.

The plot of Ice and Fire features the group entering a crazy town called Snakefish. It is here that the citizens worship gigantic mutant snakes, one of which was killed by Ryan and the gang earlier in the book. They keep that part of their ordeal secret from the town. They learn that there is a Baron trying to keep law and order but a family of ruthless power-hungry savages want to take over. Assisting them is a gang of Hell's Angels bikers. Ryan and company are caught in the crossfire and must pick a side.

This was a fun book that works like a western. The town's civil unrest lies between two warring factions just like any traditional cowboy yarn that features ranchers fighting for every acre of beef. There is an underlying plot as well that concerns Lori and Doc's relationship. If you will recall, Lori is a teenager and Doc is in his 60s or 70s. But, the two have an unusual emotional and physical bond. But, Lori wants other men and she chooses one of the power-hungry savages. I won't spoil the book, but readers may not see Lori any longer after Ice and Fire. 

If you enjoy Deathlands then this is another standout novel that is packed with energetic storytelling, ceaseless action, and an emotional journey for some of the key characters. Recommended. Get it HERE.

Note - There is a funny little easter egg when the group find a law-office door that states Angus Wellson: Divorce Counselor. Angus Wells was a fellow Piccadilly Cowboy writer. 

Conan - Savage Sword of Conan #01 (Titan)

Robert E. Howard's Conan licensing is a moving target in the comics industry. Many associate the character with Marvel based on the success of the 1970s Conan the Barbarian comic and the Savage Sword of Conan magazine. However, the character was a dominant force when Dark Horse comics purchased the license, only to lose it to Marvel decades later. Recently, the entertainment studio company Heroic Signatures purchased the licensing and offers their IP to anyone with a thick wallet – like British publisher Titan Comics.

Titan began publishing their series, Conan the Barbarian, in August of 2023 through a licensing agreement with Heroic Signatures. In February, 2024, the inevitable The Savage Sword of Conan black and white magazine was published. Like any respectable Conan fan, I bought two copies of the first issue in hopes that I can wallpaper my future grandchildren's home in thousand-dollar bills. I hope to review more modern Conan publications so I thought I would begin here with the first issue of The Savage Sword of Conan by Titan Comics. 

My issue features the cover created by Joe Jusko, an astounding artist that painted Conan the Barbarian trading cards in the 1990s. In other Conan-related works, he provided interior illustrations for the Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed RPG and Dynamite's Red Sonja. The other Jusko cover associated with this issue is the FOC cover which is the full panel with no fonts or title. The cover is also featured in black and white in the inside to accompany a Conan short-story titled "Sacrifice in the Sand" by Jim Zub, which was inspired by Jusko's art. 

Roberto De La Torre is an important artist in modern Conan. De La Torre was an active contributor on the Conan the Barbarian (2019-2021), King Conan (2021-2022), and Conan: Exodus and Other Tales (2021) titles that were all published by Marvel. I really enjoy his artwork and his amazing Conan pin-up is on page three. Additionally, Rebeca Puebla (007: King and Country, Bettie Page) provides a pin-up of Belit on page six. Fans of the 1970s Conan the Barbarian comic will enjoy artist Howard Chaykin's pin-up of Solomon Kane on page 77.

As you open the magazine, the first thing that really stands out is a personal introduction by Conan royalty, Roy Thomas. He provides a brief history of Conan in the comics and the pains and triumphs of the character in print. Thomas also adds that he was invited by Titan to write more Conan stories for this magazine – an offer he is apparently taking them up on.

The issue's main story is "Conan & The Dragon Horde". It was written by John Arcudi, a veteran comic storyteller that wrote in Savage Sword of Conan issues #150-152, 158, 165, 182 and also penned stories for Savage Tales. Arcudi is a dynamic, all-around author that has contributed to hundreds of comic titles since 1986. The story's art was created by Max Von Fafner. He created the cover for Conan the Barbarian #3 (2023), Conan: Battle of the Black Stone #2 (2024), and a variant cover for this Savage Sword of Conan issue. 

In the story, Conan is serving as a general in a Hyrkanian cavalry division headed to a large fortress in the Hyrkania desert. Conan is leading a band of soldiers, bandits, and mercenaries that are assisting an ousted prince in returning to the fortress to seize a lucrative treasure hold. There are twin soldiers serving the prince (who totes around two lions) that immediately piss Conan off when they insult a Turanian woman, Ineah, serving as a weapons engineer. 

Soon, Conan beds down Ineah and Von Fafner leaves nothing to the imagination. She is gorgeous. But, she proves to be a capable fighter and a brilliant mastermind in terms of weapon placement and use. The bizarre part of the story is when a dinosaur – yes a dinosaur – breaks from the fortress and attacks Conan's men. Thankfully, Ineah saves the day with her ballista. 

When Conan and company make camp outside of the fortress, they are surprised that no one from within the compound has bothered to attack them. As the days continue with no activity, Conan uses his thief background to climb into the city to determine what is actually happening there. 

I felt that the story was just okay. The artwork leads the way, as usual, and Conan's mannerisms and leadership is par for the course. There's nothing to dislike about Arcudi's writing, but it didn't wow me like a traditional first issue's lead story should. 

The aforementioned “Sacrifice in the Sand” short story by Jim Zub followed. Honestly, I just skipped it to jump into the Solomon Kane story, “Master of the Hunt”. This is the first of a promised trilogy of stories that places Kane on the hunt for a monster terrorizing a village. The story and art is by Patrick Zircher, a veteran that has worked on numerous Marvel and DC titles like Action Comics, Detective Comics, Superman, Captain America, Avengers, and Iron Man just to name a few. I love Solomon Kane so I was anxious to see what he could do with the character.

The story is set in Glamorgan, Wales on All Hallow's Eve. A blind man drinking ale in a bar explains that this night is when the gateways between worlds is very thin. Outside the tavern, readers are treated to small panels showing some sort of monster attacking and killing sheep. The next day Kane arrives and sees the monster's tracks. He chances upon a woman and her son living in a small farmhouse. The woman explains that her husband has embarked on the “great hunt” with other villagers in search of the monster.

I can't give too much away here due to spoilers, but this was a well-written, fast-paced narrative that excellently “got” REH's Kane character. There are scenes of Kane praying as well as dialogue emphasizing Kane's commitment to God to rid the world of evil. Although the twist ending could be seen a mile away, it didn't detract me from the story and art. The promised sequel should take the characters and monster in a new direction and I'm looking forward to that. 

More Solomon Kane is included at the end with an excellent essay penned by Jeffrey Shanks explaining the character's publication history and failure to equal the popularity of Kull and Conan. 

Overall, The Savage Sword of Conan #1 was pretty good. There's nothing to complain about, but at this point there is just so many Conan comics, books, collections, ebooks, and stories being published that the market is completely saturated. You could read nothing but Conan your entire life and never get through it all. With that being said, my failure to be overly stimulated by this new version of Savage Sword can partly be blamed on too much too fast. I have the same issue with Batman. It's an embarrassment of riches available to anyone anytime.

Get this issue plus the following two issues HERE.

Assault on a Queen

Jack Finney's first three novels – 5 Against the House, The Body Snatchers, House of Numbers – all appeared in glossy magazines before being compiled into full-length published novels. All three of those novels were so successful that they were adapted into films. As expected, Finney's fourth career effort, Assault on a Queen, followed that exact same trend. It was first published from August through September of 1959 in the Saturday Evening Post under the title The U-19's Last Kill. This serial was later published as Assault on a Queen by Simon & Schuster in the same year as a hardcover. In 1966 this book was adapted into a film starring Frank Sinatra.

Other than the opening segment, the narrative is presented in first-person by Hugh, a former Navy Lieutenant that served in WW2 on a submarine. After the way Hugh has floundered from job to job and can't find a steady romance. He often dreams of being an independent person who isn't reliant upon a job to rob him of his valuable time. There is a particular tirade that Hugh unleashes about jobs (corporate America) robbing everyone of their life. He explains that we sell our time for mere dollars and never gain any satisfaction. Finney nails the perspective of middle-class Americans and it speaks volumes even 65 years later. He was a smart guy.

Hugh runs into a man named Vic that also served on a submarine in the Navy. The two were never friends but knew each other during their time in the war. The two strike up a conversation and Vic takes Hugh to a house on the beach to meet some other veterans. There, Hugh meets three other men, each representing England, Germany, and Italy. There is also a woman there named Rosa. It is quite the motley crew. Vic then explains the purpose of their meeting.

The German, a guy named Lauffner, has found the submarine he commanded during the war. It is on the bottom of the Atlantic just a few miles from the coast. The group of men want to bring the submarine to the surface so it can be restored and operational again. But what's the purpose?

In a clever way, Finney doesn't reveal to the reader what the submarine will be used for. Granted, there is a discussion about the wealthy people on board a British passenger ship called the Queen Mary and the book's title to give it away, but the first 100 pages leaves out the details. These first half of the narrative is spent with the men getting to know one another and the work they put into the submarine. There is a side-story with Hugh competing with the Italian over Rosa. 

The book's second half is the heist itself which I won't spoil for you here. In many ways the book works like 5 Against the House but on a grander scale. Finney concentrates on character development and emphasizing why these men want wealth and independence. This is a theme that I've pointed out before with Finney's literary work. Even in The Body Snatchers there is a sense of alternate perceptions and the need to transform into something else. Finney has a unique way of connecting the reader with the characters and he makes that connection in Assault on a Queen.

If you love heist novels by the likes of Donald Westlake, Dan Marlowe, and Lionel White, then the formula will please you – plan, execute, getaway. The idea of making it a nautical caper is genius. Jack Finney was an amazing storyteller and this book showcases that talent. Highly recommended! Get your copy HERE.

One Man's Treasure

According to his bio, Terrance Layhew is an amateur swashbuckler, Organic Inspector, and a national man of mystery. As the host of Suit Up!, he has reviewed countless contemporary novels and interviewed numerous independent authors and publishers. His novels include Reason and Romance (2022), Prose and Procrastination (2024), and men's action-adventure novel One Man's Treasure (2024). After receiving an ARC of the latter, I climbed aboard to sail the Caribbean.

The book is presented in first-person perspective, however each chapter is from the viewpoint of either Dix or Sam, two brothers on a quest for love and money. Dix is an aggressive corporate attorney fresh off of a pivotal merger transaction. He's also a playboy, an amateur swashbuckler, and an avid gambler. Which is one of the reasons Dix is at Sam's apartment in the opening chapter.

Dix explains to Sam, a much more preserved character who is on the verge of engagement to his spunky girlfriend Amy. Over Malbec and Wellington, Dix presents an ancient treasure map, and then in his chapter, explains to the reader how he acquired the map from a poker player in a high-stakes game. 

The next day Sam collaborates with a former college classmate turned geography nerd. They learn the map may date back to 1670 and is a remnant of a rivalry between a pirate named Killian Jack and Spanish nobles over a love affair with a princess. The map suggests a treasure dubbed the Caribbean Crown is buried on a small island in the Venezuelan basin of the Caribbean. 

One Man's Treasure sets sail with Dix and Sam, fully equipped for an expedition, renting a charter and searching for the shiny goods. However, there are plenty of obstacles and shady characters thrown into the narrative to provide an entertaining and exhilarating race to the finish. With Amy on the venture, Sam's love interest is highlighted, but the really fun aspect to this action-adventure novel is the chemistry between Dix and Mallory, a woman he loves. Layhew's smooth prose introduces an underlining plot that has a great divide between the two jaded lovers that nearly steals the show.

Layhew's juggling act of romantic love affairs and stolen treasure makes for a riveting and dynamic reading experience. From modern day pirates and high stakes gambling to sword fights and gunfire, One Man's Treasure is the proverbial action-adventure pulp of the year. Get your copy HERE.