The Freebooters
In the early 1970s, Windsor-Smith's artwork inConan the Barbarianmade an immediate splash with comics fans and launched a short-lived sword-and-sorcery craze.Some 20 years later, he returned to the genre withFreebooters, one of three serialized stories inStoryteller, an ambitious, tabloid-size magazine that was abruptly cancelled after nine issues. Its hero suggested what Conan might have become. Once a legendary adventurer, now-flabby Axus the Great runs a tavern and regales its patrons with tales of his exploits. When naive young Aran rides into town with news of the impending resurrection of the fire demon AmmonGra, Axus'archfoe, it appeared the washed-up warrior will have to round up his former comrades and do battle. Cut short though it is,Freebootersis an amusing romp, especially as collected in this lavish volume. Its primary appeal remains Windsor-Smith's gorgeous, Pre-Raphaelite-influenced art, even more accomplished here than inConan. It may look overwrought for this amiable but slight tale, yet any opportunity to see comics master Windsor-Smith at work on barbarians is worth taking.Gordon FlaggCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved