Conan the Adventurer (1992 TV series)

Did You Know?

• The series was broadcast in weekly syndication beginning September 12, 1992, with its initial 13 episodes.
• In 2000, Maverick released a single VHS volume in the UK containing the first two episodes.
• The Picts are an extremely primitive tribe who paint their bodies and are feared by nearby tribes.

Plot

Conan lives in Cimmeria with his parents. One night, meteors fall from the sky, and Conan collects them. His father, the village blacksmith, forges the ore into Star Metal, creating tools and weapons that never rust, break, or dull. He keeps a magnificent sword for Conan, placing it under a heavy stone slab; Conan may claim it only when he is strong enough to lift the slab. The Serpent Man wizard Wrath-Amon learns that Star Metal can open portals between dimensions and seeks it to release his deity Set from the Abyss. Wrath-Amon confronts Conan's family; when Conan's father claims he sold all the Star Metal, the wizard casts a spell of living stone on the family. Conan retrieves his Star Metal sword and attacks Wrath-Amon, whose magic is disrupted by the sword, revealing his reptilian face. Wrath-Amon flees, and Conan swears by his god Crom to find a way to free his family. Conan travels Hyboria seeking a cure and opposing Wrath-Amon's rule. Wrath-Amon's henchmen are shapeshifting Serpent Men; when Conan's Star Metal sword is near them, it reveals their true form and banishes them to the Abyss upon contact. Spies and agents of Set and Stygia are present throughout the land.

Characters

Conan (voiced by Michael Donovan) is a brave barbarian from Cimmeria, later revealed as king of the Atlanteans. He wears the Vathelos amulet, learns literacy and martial arts over time, and honors the god Crom. Thunder is his loyal horse, eventually fitted with Star Metal horseshoes. Needle (voiced by Michael Beattie) is Conan's fledgling phoenix sidekick, able to enter flat surfaces and transform into a phoenix design using magical tail feathers. Needle speaks in the third person, loves pomegranates, and poses as a parrot in public. Conan's blood brother Zula, king of the black Vassai tribe, helped him find his totem animal, a lion.

References to deities

Crom is the main deity of the Cimmerians; in this series, he believes in freedom of men. Mitra does not appear but has priests and paladins; one of his priests marries a couple in the finale. Kraken is mentioned by a pirate. Woden is the main deity of the Vanirmen. Tarim is worshiped in Xanthus. Jhebbal-Sag (voiced by Richard Newman in normal form, Doug Parker in corrupted form) is the Lord of Beasts, worshiped by the Wasai; he appeared in the episode 'The Vengeance of Jhebbal Sag' and was corrupted by Wrath-Amon before being restored. Erlik the Flame-Lord (voiced by Scott McNeil) wields the Crystal of Light and imprisoned the elder demon Shulgareth; the ruling family of Kusan descends from his blood; he appeared in 'When Tolls the Bell of Night.' Ahx'oon is a large masked creature residing in a lava pit, respected for its knowledge, and controllable by a mask; it appeared in 'Curse of Ahx'oon.' Herarora, Child of the Sun, is invoked by a phoenix named Pyro in a healing spell. Ondarvard is invoked by the spellbinder in 'Birth of Wrath Amon' and by Greywolf to send Conan through time, likely a deity of time.

Production

In the early 1990s, Sunbow Productions acquired the license to adapt Conan the Barbarian as an animated series for syndication, initially ordering 13 episodes with an option for 52 more. Carole Weitzman, Sunbow Vice President of Production, stated the series would focus on a younger, less grim incarnation of Conan. Christy Marx was hired as story editor; she initially reacted with skepticism but took the position believing she could make the concept work. Marx read all of Howard's Conan stories to determine which core elements to keep. To avoid graphic violence, enemies were made magical so they glowed and vanished when defeated. Hasbro's involvement as toy partner required companions for Conan. Marx wanted to use Thoth Amon as a villain but was not allowed, so Wrath Amon was created. Snake-men were inspired by Howard's Kull of Atlantis. The series replaced Sunbow's failed Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars! and targeted viewers aged 11 to 15. The first 13 episodes were animated by Graz Entertainment; the remaining 52 were produced by Jetlag Productions.