Comic Browser:

Savage Avengers #28

Jan 2022

Gerry Duggan, Patrick Zircher

Story Name:

Chapter 28: Coda

Synopsis

Savage Avengers #28 synopsis by Rob Johnson

Rating:

Last issue the not-so-called Savage Avengers defeated Kulan Gath in the present, ending with him being taken away 'prisoner' by Shuma-Gorath. But then Conan The Barbarian and Kang The Conqueror made sure by going back in time to the Hyborian Age to stop the young boy before he *became* the sorcerer Gath. Conan was supposed to kill him but instead saved the boy from slavery to the wizard who originally bore the KG name, and then promised to train him as a warrior if he renounced magic.

Now we see them sparring with wooden swords. Conan says he makes a living as a mercenary but his preferences affects the jobs he takes - he likes killing wizards and freeing slaves. The boy asks him about the far future he visited (21st Century) and Conan comments that most people there were slaves but they didn't know it. Kang appears to take the Cimmerian to his own (later) part of the Hyborian Age but Conan says the lad's not ready yet so the time-traveller leaves them to it.

In the next scene Conan has sent 'Gath' out to make his own bow and arrow, and hunt and kill a meal in a frozen forest. It is several days before he brings down a stag. As the duo feast the boy asks his mentor if he would have left him to starve. Conan declines to answer but the boy had to learn to fend for himself. Then a talking crow arrives to deliver a parchment message which tells them how to find Mekri Ra the Sorcerer Supreme of this age. They have to cross deserts, seas, forests and rivers to reach their destination, which at least gives Conan the opportunity to broaden his charge's survival skills.

When they reach the wizard's tower Conan sends the lad in alone because it is his task to complete. As 'Gath' enters the door Mekri Ra joins Conan outside and tells him he's testing the boy. The trial will be fatal but the question is *how* will he meet his death. 'Gath' descends a long spiral stairway *below* the tower defeating skeletal warriors along the way. Finally he's grabbed by a tentacle of Shuma-Gorath who tells the youth he could slay him with the right weapon. 'Gath' compares the sword in his hand with a wizard's staff lying handily nearby. He elects to raise his sword and die a warrior ...

... and awakens with barbarian and sorcerer outside the tower again. It was all an illusion but he has passed the test. The wizard takes his leave and Conan allows Kang to spirit him away. And the youth walks off into his new future.

Kang brings Conan to his own Cimmeria but the warrior demands to be taken back to the future. He wants the riches and favour that Dr Strange promised him as reward. But Kang refuses and starts shooting at him. Conan of course dodges. Kang explains that in various timelines time-travelling Conan becomes an irritant and so must stay here or die. The Barbarian shatters Kang's gun with a thrown knife and has his sword at the man's throat saying that he noticed the Conqueror didn't have this sword amongst the relics in his collection (#25). He demands to be taken back to the feast at Dr Doom's castle ...

... but it is only Kang who pops into existence there. He lies to the assembled heroes telling them that Conan wished to remain in his home time. And then he grabs a leg of meat and returns to his own Citadel Of Solitude, Kangstantinople. Leaving the meat in the grip of the Infinity Gauntlet he presses a button in the mouth of Annihilus which opens a hidden room containing Conan's sword and dagger plus his kingly crown and sceptre. And then notices that the swordblade is enscribed 'this isn't over'.

We see the older Cimmerian on the throne of Aquilonia with these 4 items including the inscription. Then we see Kang bring a Conan to 2022.

Review / Commentaries

Savage Avengers #28 Review by Rob Johnson (January 14, 2022)

In #11 Kulan Gath killed Mekri Ra to absorb his knowledge.

Conan's futures mentioned by Kang:-
In 2019's Conan 2099 1-shot he gains a Nova Corps helmet.
Conan gains immortality from a meteorite. I don't know if this refers to any particular story but it sounds like Ulysses Bloodstone.

The ending is ambiguous. It suggests that Kang brings Conan forward again after he has been King of Aquilonia. But the Conan who appears at the end seems more like his younger version.
Whatever, perhaps he will now establish his modern-day kingdom and then be cursed to immortality by Morgan Le Fay, as seen in Conan 2099.

> Savage Avengers comic book info and issue index

::: click cover to ENLARGE it :::

Excelsioring your collection:

Diamond Select Toys Marvel Gallery: Doctor Doom PVC Statue

Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Gerry Duggan

Patrick Zircher

Java Tartaglia

Valerio Giangiordano (Cover Penciler)
Valerio Giangiordano (Cover Inker)
Frank D'Armata (Cover Colorist)

Additional Credits

Letterer: Travis Lanham.
Editor: Tom Brevoort. Editor-in-chief: C. B. Cebulski.

Listed in alphabetical order. All stories.

Conan

Doctor Doom
(Victor Von Doom)

Doctor Strange
(Stephen Strange)

Kang
(Nathaniel Richards)

Kulan Gath

The Marvel Heroes Library is a fan Marvel Comics site

Version 14.8.23 (Nov 19, 2024. VS22)

Characters are copyright © Marvel or their respective owners. All portions of this Marvel fansite that are subject to copyright are licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 unported license All rights reserved

Top Menu

Savage Avengers #28

Chapter 28: Coda

Synopsis

Review / Commentaries

Additional Credits