Conan the Agent of SHIELD (Vol. 1)

**Publisher**: Age of Marvels

**Line**: Global

**Status**: Ongoing Limited Series

## Details

**CONAN THE AGENT OF SHIELD**

Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO

Plot by EXCITER

Art by TRADD MOORE

Adapted from an unpublished story by ROBERT E. HOWARD!

Concept: Conan sells his sword to the Brotherhood of the Shield!

1. Conan of Cimmeria

Supporting: Zula, Fafnir Hellhand, Hadrathus, Kull the Conqueror

Villains: Damballah (and the Serpent Men), Ssith, Thulsa Doom

## Issues

**CONAN THE AGENT OF SHIELD #1**

Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO

Plot by EXCITER

Art by TRADD MOORE

Adapted from an unpublished story by ROBERT E. HOWARD!

“THE SNAKE BENEATH THE SKIN” Part One “HYBORIANS ASSEMBLE”

“Know, O prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the rise of the sons of Aryas, there was an Age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars. Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandaled feet... And for a time, to act as an AGENT OF SHIELD!”

*- The Nemedian Chronicles*
The Brotherhood of the Shield arose in the Pictish Isles some months prior. It was a secret fraternity, then twelve men strong, composed of those brave enough to protect humanity from forces that would prevent it from becoming what it might be. Its indomitable founder was known only as the Shield-Bearer, and in his heart he knew that his next recruit could only be one man... Conan the Barbarian! Unpersuaded by speeches appealing to his altruism, Conan had other ideas about what was best in life. And so it was that Conan became a mercenary for the Brotherhood of the Shield, paid in gold and glory, and given a quest for which he would need to assemble his allies: the hulking warrior from Vanaheim with a demon's arm grafted where he lost his own to sepsis, Fafnir Hellhand; healer and priest of the god Asura, Hadrathus, and the Darfarian fighter educated in the ways of sorcery who reads from the mystical Darkhold, Zula. Together, they were some of the first agents of the Brotherhood of the Shield, and their task was to slay a cadre of Kothian invaders. Yet unbeknownst to Conan's band, the Shield-Bearer had not fully disclosed the true nature of their mission. He knew they would not believe until they bore witness themselves. The Kotians were not the true enemy. The true enemy was the Kotian leader's adviser – Ssith, an adherent of the Snake Cult and one of the progenitors of an insidious evil that, unless stopped now, would plague mankind for 20,000 years. In fierce battle, Conan would discover Ssith's grim secret...

*Experience the unbelievable Hyborian Age genesis of both S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA!*

32 PGs./Rated T+...$2.99

**CONAN THE AGENT OF SHIELD #2 \*\*\*Limited Series\*\*\***

 Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO

 Plot by EXCITER

 Art by TRADD MOORE

 Adapted from an unpublished story by ROBERT E. HOWARD!

 “THE SNAKE BENEATH THE SKIN” Part Two “A HISTORY OF HYDRA”

When Conan's blade drank the blood of the Kothian raiders, their lifeless bodies revealed a secret none in his party were prepared to uncover. He fought not men, but heinous reptilian monsters disguised as men! The Brotherhood of the Shield hired him to slay these fiends, and the world-weary Conan suspected that the Brotherhood's leader, the mysterious Shield-Bearer, knew exactly who his targets were. Answers would be demanded, and truths long thought lost would be imparted...

The Serpent Men worshiped their creator, the many-headed snake, the Elder God Set. Ancient beyond description, these creatures witnessed the coming of the First Host of Celestials, who rebuked them in favor of humanity. Since then, they have been possessed of a seething hatred for mankind. Harassing them at every turn, the primitive humans rose in defiance and used their superior numbers to slaughter the Serpent Men to the point of near extinction. The Serpents quickly realized that open war was not their path to success. No, their victory would be attained secretly. They formed the Snake Cult and slowly attracted human followers. They festered in the world's dark places, growing two heads to replace every one cut off until the cult had a massive power-base in Stygia under their leader, the so-called Son of Set, Damballah. Channeling the power of their god, they forged the immensely powerful Cobra Crown. The Cobra Crown, which grants the ability to usurp the minds of others. The Cobra Crown, the most powerful tool in their campaign to usurp humanity's control of the Earth. The Cobra Crown.... which Conan and his band have been hired to steal!

 32 PGs./Rated T+...$2.99

CONAN THE AGENT OF SHIELD #3 \*\*\*Limited Series\*\*\*

Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO

Plot by EXCITER

Art by TRADD MOORE

Adapted from an unpublished story by ROBERT E. HOWARD!

“THE SNAKE BENEATH THE SKIN” Part Three “SACRIFICE THE FUTURE”

The black sands of arid Stygia were harsh and full or perils, not the least of which was the insidious Snake Cult that had slithered its way into control of the region. A theocracy ruled by the priests of Set, their high priest was the malevolent sorcerer Thoth-Amon. Upon his head sat the Cobra Crown, the fabled artifact Conan and his band of mercenaries were hired to claim for the Brotherhood of the Shield. Impossible to take directly, the task required subterfuge. But when the would-be thieves disguise themselves and infiltrate Thoth-Amon's black mass, the sorcerer reveals that he has captured certain enemies and aberrations that would be ritualistically slaughtered as sacrifices to Set and his demigod son, Damballah. The sacrificial offerings: every member of the Brotherhood of the Shield! The Shield-Bearer, founder of the nascent Brotherhood, is heralded by Thoth-Amon as the greatest sacrifice at all, given that the Cobra Crown has revealed the Shield-Bearer as a man lost in time... a man that was once and in the far future would be known as Captain America! Can Conan stand idly by and watch this slaughter, or will he incur the wrath of the dark Elder God?

32 PGs./Rated T+...$2.99

CONAN THE AGENT OF SHIELD #4 of 4 \*\*\*Limited Series\*\*\*

Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO

Plot by EXCITER

Art by TRADD MOORE

Adapted from an unpublished story by ROBERT E. HOWARD!

“THE SNAKE BENEATH THE SKIN” Part Four of Four “DESCENT INTO THE UNKNOWN”

The barbaric tale of sword, S.H.I.E.L.D., and sorcery concludes here! Conan and his band of mercenaries have liberated the Brotherhood of the Shield and their leader, a time displaced Captain America! But in doing so, have they ensured that Thoth-Amon and his insidious Snake Cult of disguised Serpent Men will use the Hyborian Age weapon of mass destruction known as the Cobra Crown? In a last ditch effort to recover the deadly artifact, Conan and the Brotherhood must descend into the Largest ziggurat in Stygia - a twisted temple dedicated to the evil elder God, Set - where they will face horrors untold. For at the ziggurat's heart is an otherworldly nexus of reality, wherein awaits Damballah, the enormous reptilian demigod and scion of Set himself! Can Conan end the cult's influence and cut off the head of this snake? What of the two heads that grow to replace it? And if Conan does survive this wretched den of black magic, where and when will the Cimmerian find himself?

32 PGs./Rated T+...$2.99