In 1985, when I was 14, the Savage Sword of Conan issues 113 and 118 were published. The first had Earl Norem's Conan on the cover and the other featured a classic Joe Jusko with a bikini lady and Conan and a monster. You know the one.
In the back of each issue was an 8 page story. The first was called "A Quiet Place" and the other was "Alchemy", each written by Don Kraar and drawn by Tony Salmons*. My only knowledge of Tony Salmons came from those stories in SSoC.
Each story was short, brutal, and to the point. The first was about Conan, tired, wanting a quiet night of rest. But of course thugs had to ruin it and so they died. My favorite part of that story is when they kill all the roosters before they can crow so Conan can sleep.
I know Salmons has done other comic book work, but I'm not familiar with it. I never hear his name mentioned. What is his story? Did he give up on comics or just never make a huge splash? His pacing and choice of framing are incredible. I believe they informed my own instincts about comic book art. For example, the way Salmons makes little short series of silent panels and zooms in on details, such as Conan's horse being nearly dead from exhaustion or his sword being bloody as he rides up to the inn.
We get a lot of detail with very few lines. His forms remind me a little of Herb Trimpe and also Frank Miller. I'm not sure who is influencing who, but Trimpe obviously predates either Miller or Salmons. I would also say Mignola's later work has a touch of Salmons' charm, whether it was a direct influence or not.
*Let's give love to the letters: Jack Morelli on "A Quiet Place" and Diana Albers on "Alchemy".
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