Conan vs. Werewolves is a problematic title. Conan as Robert E. Howard wrote him never met an actual werewolf. Howard wrote only six pieces that did involve lycanthropes. (He wrote more about shapechangers like the Serpent Men and the thing that came out of the ocean in “Out of the Deep”, but these aren’t even close to werewolves.) Only one of these six involves Conan the Cimmerian.
The first two werewolf tales form a series about a Frenchman named de Montour with “In the Forest of Villefere” (Weird Tales, August 1925) and “Wolfshead” (Weird Tales, April 1926). In the first tale we see how de Montour acquires the lycanthropic curse, by killing a werewolf in wolf form. The second, longer and better tale, follows the accursed to Africa where a situation with rebelling natives ends with the werewolf getting blown up by dynamite and freed from his curse. This tale is special in that it featured a wolf man before Hollywood had cemented the image of the werewolf as Lon Chaney covered in fuzz. Both stories would be used by Marvel Comics, in separate tales, one Red Sonja, the other King Kull.
“The Lost Race” (Weird Tales, January 1927) has the suggestion of werewolfery. Cororuc is a Celt who sees a panther attack a wolf. He intervenes, saving the wolf. Later he is captured by the savage Picts. He is ultimately released, after a history lesson, because the wolf was a shapeshifting Pict.
REH followed up with another African tale, this one on the Veldt with “The Hyena” (Weird Tales, March 1928). It is a pretty standard were-tale with an evil man being found out to be a were-hyena.
“Queen of the Black Coast” (Weird Tales, May 1934) has an ancient evil in the form of a winged ape that commands a pack of were-hyenas. Conan must kill them before he can gain access to the big bad. This is the closest Conan came to facing off against a werewolf. For more on the were-hyenas, go here.
There is also the poem “Up, John Kane!” (Up, John Kane! & Other Poems, 1977), which I don’t know when it was composed but wasn’t published until the 1970s. The poem tells how the lure of werewolves calling to a new recruit feels.
Conan and the other Howard characters really get bothered by were-creatures with the comics. Conan the Barbarian, King Kull, Red Sonja and Solomon Kane, all meet up with shapeshifters of one kind or another. We also get to see several of Howard’s tales adapted though not usually with the characters he wrote about. The 1982 Conan the Barbarian film gave a nod to the sex scene from “Worms of the Earth” (Weird Tales, November 1932), a Bran Mak Morn story with the character of werewolfy witch that Conan beds then gets thrown into a fire.
“Wolfshead” (Kull, the Conqueror #8, May 1973) was written by Len Wein and Roy Thomas based on the Robert E. Howard story. He moves the action from Africa to an unknown jungle outside Valusia. One of the best features of the original is Howard’s description of how the curse descends on its victim. That element is used here but with a little less drama. The Marie and John Severin’s art is always a joy to re-experience.
“The Warrior and the Were-Woman!” (Conan the Barbarian #38, May 1974) was written by Roy Thomas based on Robert E. Howard’s “The House of Arabu” (The Avon Fantasy Reader #18, 1952). Conan gets involved with a priest of evil Erlik and has to face down both a werewolf and its mate Lilithu the were-woman. In the original there is no suggestion of werewolves.
“Red Sonja” (Kull and the Barbarians #2, May 1975) was written by Roy Thomas based on Robert E. Howard’s “In the Forest of Villefere”. Thomas adds a little mystery to the tale to complicate what is a very basic story.
“The Silver Beast Beyond Torkertown” (Savage Sword of Conan #14, September 1976) was written by Doug Moench. This is probably my favorite for plot. Solomon Kane is attacked by a werewolf in an inn. He kills it by stabbing it with a silver knife. The monster is rich man, Gideon Harkins. His sister asks the barkeep to take his body away for burial. Kane goes to Harkins’ house and reads an ancient parchment that explains Harkins had no sister. She proves to be another werewolf, one that was hunted by Harkins for eight years. She attacks and Kane shoots her, turning her back into her true form, that of a wolf. Some great Zeck art too!
“Talons of the Man-Tiger!” (Conan the Barbarian #67, October 1976) was written by Roy Thomas. The tiger man in this issue is a guardian to a citadel that Conan is breaking into. Other than being a guardsmen who changes form there is little of lycanthropy here. Conan kills him with his sword. Much more interesting is Belit meeting Red Sonja at the beginning, and Conan feeling like a two-timer.
“Death on the Black Coast!” (Conan the Barbarian #100, July 1979) was written by Roy Thomas based on Robert E. Howard’s “Queen of the Black Coast”. The ape monster controls the were-hyenas and sends them against Conan. We don’t get to see them change from men into beast.
“With Full Moons Come Werewolves” (King Conan #5, March 1981) A rather muddy filler.
“The Lost Race” (Savage Sword of Conan #68-69, September-October 1981) was written by Roy Thomas based on the Robert E. Howard story. All the shapeshifting in this story happens off stage.
“Night of the Wolf!” (Conan the Barbarian #158, May 1984) was written by Michael Fleisher and John Buscema. This one reminds me of “Shambleau” by C. L. Moore in that the hero, Conan, disregards warning from others that the woman is a monster. Ultimately, even he is convinced. Conan doesn’t have a Yarol the Venusian to save him though. He has to do it for himself.
“Keeper!” (Conan the Barbarian #192, March 1987) was written by Christopher Priest (as Jim Owsley). Another Conan about other things with a short werewolf bit that isn’t really all that important. The cover is the best part.
“He Who Hungers!” (Conan the Barbarian #224, November 1989) was written by Larry Hama. Conan and crew get stranded in the mountains where hunger turns one man into a werewolf-like beast. Conan settles him and his food problem.
“Catspaw!” (Conan the Barbarian #227, Mid December 1989) was written by Gerry Conway. Conan steals a jewel from the temple of Bastest and gets on the wrong side of Karista, leader of the were panthers. I have to admit I think Conway was inspired by Algernon Blackwood’s “Ancient Sorceries” (from John Silence, (1908) with all the people in the City of Cats turning into black panthers.
“Death in the Family!” (Conan the Barbarian #234, July 1990) was written by Michael Higgins. This tale of young Conan has a sorceress who is a lycanthrope, who attacks Conan’s village in Cimmeria. She kills Conan’s mother.
“The End Must Come” (Conan the Barbarian #240, January 1991) was written by Roy Thomas (as Justin Arthur). A flashback to the previous issue.
“Werewoman” (Savage Sword of Conan #221, May 1994) was written by Roy Thomas based on C. L. Moore’s “Werewoman” (Leaves, Winter 1938). Conan’s party is ambushed by soldiers from Anthros. He escapes and flees across the moors where he encounters the were-women. These are wolves that become women, not the other way around. Conan and one of these creatures get together and go after the soldiers. Conan tales a bloody revenge. Robert E. Brown and Rey Garcia’s art is wild but reminiscent of Barry Smith.
“Mark of the Wolf” (Conan the Cimmerian #2, August 2008) was written by Timothy Truman. I don’t usually stray to far from the Bronze Age but for Richard Corben I will. Tomás Giorello does the frame for the story with Corben doing the middle. Conan meets a hermit that knows the tale of his grandfather, Connacht. It is a gory tale of warrior versus two werewolves and the awful truth of who they are. (I won’t ruin the surprise.)
Conclusion
Conan vs. Werewolves! Sword & Sorcery has a fondness for lycanthropes. Keith Taylor’s Bard featured a great one while Fafhrd & Gray Mouser faced off against were-rats. In my own writing, I have Arthan the bear man, a were-bear in the Beorn model who has adventures of the Conan variety. His world is inhabited by werewolves, of course, his sworn enemies, but also were-eagles, were-seals and were-foxes. Each of these different groups have their own philosophies and natures. The werewolves, who play a major role in #4 The War of the Weres, revel in killing but also display a love of the pack that Arthan finds confounding. As a were-bear, he is of a solitary nature. He meets Vih the fox-woman, who is even more cunning than the wolves. As she explains, “You have to be clever when you don’t weight eight hundred pounds.” Being a were means you are very long lived, rejuvenating with each hamask, or turning. This means Arthan will be having many adventures, over the centuries.
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