#Kull King of Valusia

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

STILL THE PINNACLE IN '80s SWORD & SORCERY COVER ART -- INTO SERPENTINE DARKNESS.

PIC(S) INFO: Mega spotlight on bi-monthly covers of "KULL" [the Conqueror] Vol. 3 #'s 9 & 10. April & June, 1985. Marvel Comics. Artwork by the mighty Barry Windsor-Smith.

Anyway, I'm sad to say that my "Snake-Man" cover was recently damaged by the rain last week, but now it's even more "vintage" and ancient-looking than ever before, I guess, like a decrepit, weather-beaten tome from the Hyborian Age, if you will. I'm over it, I guess, and the cover still looks pretty great, not gonna lie -- it doesn't look to be deteriorating yet!

Source: https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Kull_the_Conqueror_Vol_3_9 (Marvel Database 2×).

[kult-of-tol-in-gaurhoth]

"IN THE LEGEND-LADEN DAYS BEFORE THE DAWNING OF THE HYBORIAN AGE..."

PIC(S) INFO: "THE COMING OF -- KING KULL! Spotlight on the introductory page (and remastered cover art) to "Creatures On the Loose!" Vol. 1 #10. March, 1971. Marvel Comics.

"In the time before the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities -- in the legend-laden days before the dawning of the Hyborian Age... the man called Kull rides proudly at the head of his hand-picked guardsmen. But beware, monarch of mighty Valusia... for ahead lies terror! Ahead waits, stark, unfathomable fear! Ahead lurks -- THE SKULL OF SILENCE!"

-- CREATURES ON THE LOOSE Vol. 1 #10

Artwork by Herb Trimpe (✝), Marie Severin (✝), and Morrie Kuramoto (✝). Story artwork by Bernie Wrightson (✝).

Script by Roy Thomas, adapted from the works of writer-creator Robert E. Howard✝.

Source: https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Creatures_on_the_Loose_Vol_1_10.

[thehauntedrocket]

King Kull Of Valusia

Art by Ken Kelly

[curtvilescomic]

Kull by Ken Kelly

Textless cover for Kull King of Valusia REH library 2 book 

[vaults-of-zin]

Kull of Atlantis miscellaneous thoughts

Being an earlier prototype of Conan the Barbarian most of the sotories are just straight up worse versions of later Conan stories.

There's about a dozen or so stories yet they all end up repeating themselves a lot. Probably a result of how they were/weren't published.

Like a full 50% are about scheming nobles sneaking into the palace to kill Kull and Kull beating the shit out of them.

Conan gets a lot of pre-kingship adventuring stories but every Kull story involves him being king so when he decides unseal ancient evils and plunder their cursed treasure he has a full royal court coming along with him telling him this is a bad idea.

Conan also gets to have a sexuality whereas Kull is wrtten to show how resiliant he is to the manipulating charms of womankind.

This comes off as very gay.

The only type of women in the Empire of Valusia are whiny teenage noblewomen.

The only type of political issue Kull everdeals with involve said whiny teenage noblewomen running off and having affairs.

For all Robert E. Howard loves to prattle about the degeneracy of civilisation, the only example of this he can throw out is scheming noblemen plotting to assassinate Kull. Which doesn't really contrast well with Kull since he also assassinated the last king.

The best story is The Cat and the Skull. Kull gets tricked into diving into a cursed lake full of seamonsters on the advice of a talking cat.

I think the best way to read Kull stories is to imagine them as a strongman dictator's propaganda puff-pieces. That's why the writer is so concerned with describing Kull as strong and virile. That's why every second story is about a consiracy to murder Kull. That's why they never discuss any of Kull's actual policy decisions.

[katiajewelbox]

I noticed this too! I love Shiryu's character design as well as his kind and noble personality. I like how Yasha looks and in my mind's eye, I "cast" him as Kull of Atlantis, King of Valusia, whenever I'm reading one of Robert E Howard's Kull stories. Yasha was an enigmatic character and difficult to understand at times, but he certainly was elegant looking!

[comic-covers]

(1981)

[katiajewelbox]

If there was one anime and manga that nailed the vibe of author Robert E Howard’s original vision of Hyboria, it was CLAMP’s RG Veda. RG Veda is still my favourite manga series of all time, and when I read Kull the Conqueror and Conan the Barbarian novels I imagine the people and places looking a lot like RG Veda’s world. In fact, I pretty much imagine Kull of Atlantis, King of Valusia, looking exactly like Yasha from RG Veda when I’m reading the novels. 

Fun fact: In my upcoming Escaflowne fanfiction, Hyboria begins where the map of Gaea ends... there will even be a cameo by Conan the Barbarian himself as well as some of the fictional cultures and humanoid species from Robert E Howard’s stories!

[jtmercronin]

Kull of Atlantis or Kull the Conqueror is a fictional character created by writer Robert E. Howard and portrayed by Kevin Sorbo in Kull The Conqueror 1997. Kull was more introspective than the subsequent creation, Conan the Barbarian, whose first appearance was in a re-write of a rejected Kull story. 

Kull was born into a tribe settled in the Tiger Valley of Atlantis. The valley was flooded exterminating the tribe while Kull was sole survivor, living as a feral child for many years. Kull was captured and adopted by the Sea-Mountain tribe. Adolescent Kull offers a quick death to a woman judged to be publicly executed by burning for choosing a Lemurian, an age old enemy of Atlanteans as her partner. As recompense, the Sea-Mountain tribe pursue Kull attempting to kill him for obstructing the execution and drive him into exile from Atlantis. 

Attempting to reach the continent, Thuria, Kull was instead captured by Lemurian Pirates. He spent two years a galley slave as an oarsman. The slaves take their freedom by mutiny and run as pirates raiding and smuggling. Kull later earns the command of his own crew until surviving losing a naval battle in Valusian waters. 

Kull resolved to to become an outlaw in Valusia until His capture and incarceration in a dungeon then offered the choice: execution or service as a gladiator. He chose the latter gaining fame in the arenas of the capital, a number of fans helped to regain his freedom. Afterwards Kull joined the Royal army as a mercenary, rising through the ranks. 

Approaching his thirties, is presented a mission by King Borna of Valusia to kill the sorcerer Rotath of Lemuria. Kull succeeds and is promoted to General and the command of royal army mercenaries. Borna is becoming known for for his cruelty and despotism leading to civil war consolidating power with the army's backbone of mercenaries to revolt against Bruna. Kull kills Bruna, who had killed his sons and heirs in a mad rage and usurps the throne of Valusia in his early thirties. 

Kull reaches his middle forties and becoming progressively more introspective in The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune, his adventures and sorties fueled by struggling with his own mortality.

[tlaquetzqui]

So Tubi has Conan the Adventurer, the early ’90s cartoon. Um…why is this show so good? Aside from how the villains are the Serpent Men of Valusia, who run the Stygian cult of Set (whose real name is Yig, Father of Serpents), that whole thing about the phoenix is from one of the earliest stories. And how the shield with the phoenix on it once belonged to a king of Atlantis? Kull. That’s a reference to Kull.

About the one complaint I have is so far nobody has said “ka nama kaa lajerama”.

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

UNHOLY SPAWN OF THE SERPENTINE PATH -- THE SONS OF SET -- THE SERPENT MEN!

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on panels of the dreaded Serpent Men, a fictional race created by Robert E. Howard for his King Kull tales, and were later adapted for the "Conan the Barbarian" Vol 1. comic-book series by Roy Thomas and Marie Severin over at Marvel Comics in the early '70s.

MINI-OVERVIEW: "Serpent Men are humanoids with scaled skin and snake-like heads. They possess magical abilities, the most common of which is the use of illusion to disguise themselves as a human. In some stories, the ghost of someone killed by a Serpent Man becomes the Serpent Man's slave. Due to the shape of their mouths, Serpent Men cannot utter the phrase "Ka nama kaa lajerama." Robert E. Howard's character Kull uses the phrase as a shibboleth in the story "The Shadow Kingdom.""

-- FANTASY RACES/HEROIC FANTASY (via Pinterest)

Sources: www.pinterest.com/pin/827536500250967131, http://random-happenstance.blogspot.com/2011/12/end-week-kull-10.html, www.pinterest.com/pin/827536500253725239, etc...

[natalieironside]

Conan becoming king of Aquilonia: It's fine with some minor hiccups and very brief political intrigue, somehow still has time to go on adventures and hit things, no significant developments

Kull becoming king of Valusia:

I wish that Bob Howard had written more Kull stories.  Kull is a way more interesting protagonist than Conan (who, let’s be honest, is barely a character) who lives in a much weirder world and also is way less racist.

[notpulpcovers]

The Shadow Kingdom

The blare of the trumpets grew louder, like a deep golden tide surge, like the soft booming of the evening tides against the silver beaches of Valusia. The throng shouted, women flung roses from the roofs as the rhythmic chiming of silver hosts came clearer and the first of the mighty array swung into view in the broad white street that curved round the golden-spired Tower of Splendor.

First came the trumpeters, slim youths, clad in scarlet, riding with a flourish of long, slender golden trumpets; next the bowmen, tall men from the mountains; and behind these the heavily armed footmen, their broad shields clashing in unison, their long spears swaying in perfect rhythm to their stride. Behind them came the mightiest soldiery in all the world, the Red Slayers, horsemen, splendidly mounted, armed in red from helmet to spur. Proudly they sat their steeds, looking neither to right nor to left, but aware of the shouting for all that. Like bronze statues they were, and there was never a waver in the forest of spears that reared above them.

Behind those proud and terrible ranks came the motley files of the mercenaries, fierce, wild-looking warriors, men of Mu and of Kaa-u and of the hills of the east and the isles of the west. They bore spears and heavy swords, and a compact group that marched somewhat apart were the bowmen of Lemuria. Then came the light foot of the nation, and more trumpeters brought up the rear.

A brave sight, and a sight which aroused a fierce thrill in the soul of Kull, king of Valusia. Not on the Topaz Throne at the front of the regal Tower of Splendor sat Kull, but in the saddle, mounted on a great stallion, a true warrior king. His mighty arm swung up in reply to the salutes as the hosts passed. His fierce eyes passed the gorgeous trumpeters with a casual glance, rested longer on the following soldiery; they blazed with a ferocious light as the Red Slayers halted in front of him with a clang of arms and a rearing of steeds, and tendered him the crown salute. They narrowed slightly as the mercenaries strode by. They saluted no one, the mercenaries. They walked with shoulders flung back, eyeing Kull boldly and straightly, albeit with a certain appreciation; fierce eyes, unblinking; savage eyes, staring from beneath shaggy manes and heavy brows.

And Kull gave back a like stare. He granted much to brave men, and there were no braver in all the world, not even among the wild tribesmen who now disowned him. But Kull was too much the savage to have any great love for these. There were too many feuds. Many were age-old enemies of Kull’s nation, and though the name of Kull was now a word accursed among the mountains and valleys of his people, and though Kull had put them from his mind, yet the old hates, the ancient passions still lingered. For Kull was no Valusian but an Atlantean.

[landofoyr]

Goodreads reviews 17: Kull: Exile of Atlantis

Goodreads reviews 17: Kull: Exile of Atlantis

Kull: Exile of Atlantis by Robert E. Howard My rating: 3 of 5 stars we dig deeper into Howard’s mind and we go far before Conan was born. Kull lives in a totally fantastic universe with no pseudo-historic relevances. kull is a barbarian an able fighter and a big man but here ends any similarity with Conan. the only stories we have are him as a king of Valusia and not as an adventurer. the book…

[magazinesandmonsters]

Kull the Destroyer 11, 1973 "King Kull Must Die!"

Kull the Destroyer 11, 1973 “King Kull Must Die!”

Certain names in the comic book industry invoke thoughts of titles. Any classic comic book reader will tell you this is true. A character like Kull will always make me think of Robert E. Howard. This man had a very short time on Earth, but the impact he left is still being felt today. But I digress…King Kull is a pre-Conan era (or Pre-cataclysmic Age) character that ruled the kingdom of Valusia.…

[biggoonie]

Kull #1 by Andy Brase and Joe Kubert

KULL #1 (of 6)

Arvid Nelson (W), Will Conrad (P), JosÈ Villarrubia (C), Andy Brase (Cover), and Joe Kubert (Cover)

On sale Nov 5 FC, 32 pages $2.99 Miniseries

More comfortable with a sword than a scepter, Kull has recently crowned himself king and seeks to unite the once-proud and powerful land of Valusia. Only Count Areyas stands between Kull and a reunified kingdom and the obstinate Count waits patiently in his Iron Fortress, the land's oldest and most formidable castle. Horrors lurk in the shadows of Kull's newly won throne, and slithering foes stalk his every move. Arvid Nelson (Rex Mundi) scripts this series, which will adapt Robert E. Howard's story The Shadow Kingdom, with art by Will Conrad (Serenity) and JosÈ Villarrubia (Conan).

Joe Kubert (Sgt. Rock, Enemy Ace) delivers a special Kull #1 cover, which along with his Conan the Cimmerian #1 and Solomon Kane #1 covers marks the first time Kubert's visions of these Robert E. Howard heroes have seen print. Renowned fantasy artist Andy Brase provides regular series covers to this bracing, bloody fantasy series.