Number 1102


Crom the Barbarian


As promised Monday, here's another story by John Giunta, this time signing himself "Jay Gee."

Giunta did "Crom the Barbarian and the Spider God of Akka" for Avon's Out Of This World #2, in 1950. It appeared in a 32-page comic book insert for an issue of Avon's pulp magazine of the same name, where I got the scans for this story.

From what I understand, Gardner Fox wrote "Crom," and based him on Conan the Barbarian. Crom was Conan's god, to whom he swore mighty oaths. I'm not sure why Fox named his character after Conan's god, but appears to have been giving a nod to readers in the know, referring to the stories of Robert E. Howard.

Giunta, who worked in comic books during the 1940s through at least the mid-'60s, died in 1970 at the young age of 50.