LIBRO
Real Name: Libro
Identity/Class: Normal human magic user (Hyborian Era)
Occupation:
Thief;
Group Membership:
None;
Affiliations:
None;
Enemies: Conan, Ishtar (Alonia), brigands (Hamarr, Oggur, Phandar, Tassgorian, others unnamed)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Ababenzzar and surrounds
First Appearance: Conan the Barbarian I#40/1 (July, 1974)
Powers/Abilities: Libro had basic magical skills and could summon a huge and fiery minion of Hotath and Helgor to do his bidding. When in possession of Ishtar's lifestone, he became extremely long-lived, virtually immortal. He was a greedy man and sought grand wealth for himself. He also had limited esoteric knowledge gained across the years and from his time as a priest.
History:
(Conan the Barbarian I#40/1 (fb) - BTS) - A long time before this adventure, Libro was a priest in service to Ishtar but was considered unworthy and somehow managed to steal the goddess' diamond-like lifestone, binding her in human form to his will and granting him with near immortality. He used this gift to acquire a huge amount of gems and riches over the years. However, Libro was eventually waylaid by a band of brigands who stole the lifestone and other gems from him. The lifestone drew the greedy thieves to travel to the lost city of Ababenzzar in search of more treasure and so that they could divide their plunder. Libro knew that the jewel would find its way back to Ishtar's city of Ababenzzar and tried to make his way there across the desert in pursuit of the thieves.
(Conan the Barbarian I#40/1) - Without a horse, Libro became exhausted but was found by Conan. He pleaded with the Cimmerian to take him to the lost city of Ababenzzar with the promise of jewels, directing him to its location. He watched as Conan entered the ruins and took his horse to an aged stable. Libro effectively used to Conan to tackle the thieves and gather the treasure, but the warrior raced away from the pack of murderous brigands only to run into Libro. The trap now sprung, Libro summoned a fiery minion of Hotath and Helgor to literally crush the brigands before it turned on Conan. Libro desired the lifestone and was about to command the fiery beast to kill Conan but a hurled dagger from a dying brigand sliced into Libro's back, killing him. Ishtar then helped Conan defeat the demon-like creature.
Comments: Created by Roy Thomas (writer/editor), Rich Buckler (pencils) and Ernie Chua (inks).
It was unrevealed just how long the lifestone kept Libro alive for, but it was evidently a very long time according to Ishtar.
This Conan story was adapted from a plot by Michael Resnick, author of Goddess of Ganymede.
The images used in this profile are from Marvel comics that have since been reprinted and recolored in a TPB published by Dark Horse. Any help in replacing these images with the original colored panels would be greatly appreciated!
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Libro has no known connections to:
Ababenzzar was home to Ishtar. It was ancient but eventually abandoned, and it became lost in the desert and left in ruins. When Ishtar returned, the goddess protected it and guarded the jewels left there.
--Conan the Barbarian I#40/1
images:
(without ads)
Conan the Barbarian I#40/1, p12, pan3 (main image)
Other Appearances: None
Last updated: 03/10/08
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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