GRIMM
GRIMM
Real Name: Grimm
Identity/Class: Human mutate (apparently magically mutated);
Hyborian era (circa 10,000 BC);
Cimmerian citizen
Occupation: Commander of a force in the Turanian Army;
former vengeance-seeker;
former thief/plunderer;
presumably formerly a hunter and warrior in Cimmeria
Group Membership:
formerly the Greybear clan of Cimmeria
Affiliations: Shah Amurath, Turanian Army and Empire, Prince Yezdigerd, King Yildiz;
possibly Erlik;
formerly Juma, Svenno, a group of Picts including Ju-Ho), an unidentified band of Aesgaardian warriors;
presumably at least formerly Crom;
Enemies: Amir Saltam, Black Monks of
Yahlgan and their warriors, Conan the Cimmerian, Dimmorz (presumably
either a person or the people of a place), Glorana, Hakar, Juma, Kozaks/Free Companions, Razadan residents, Svenno, Tibior, Zorka, Yolinda, Zula; the mutates of Kherdpur (including Salbatanu and Zosara); any of his troops who disappointed him
formerly a group of Picts including Ju-Ho;
the Kozak forces under Conan (including Fafnir Hellhand, Turgohl, and others) prepared to battle Grimm and his forces, but they never had the chance
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: The Black Hound of Death, Commander Grimm, the Destroyer of Dimmorz;
"Two-legged hyena" (from Zorka);
"Whisperer" (from Yezdigerd);
"swine" (from Yolinda);
"fiend" (from Juma)
Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
slain in the temple of Kherdpur, somewhere in the Turanian steppes;
formerly mobile throughout the Turanian steppes;
formerly Aghrapur, Turan;
formerly Yahlgan (some sources list it to be in northern Turan, but I
could not find any confirmation; as they worshipped Erik, mentioned as
a god of the Hyrkanians, perhaps it was in Hyrkania);
formerly Cimmeria
First Appearance: Savage Sword of Conan I#218 (February, 1994; see comments)
Powers/Abilities:
Grimm had a large mouth, abnormally wide from commissure to commissure,
and able to open much farther than a normal human's. All of his teeth
(both maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower) were enlarged, like
sharp canine teeth, and he can bite into and rip out the neck on an
adult male, with swift and consistently fatal results, unless he
deliberately holds back the force of his bite (bigoted, he did not wish
to consume the flesh of the "darker races"). This was his preferred method to slay a foe.
He presumably had superhuman resistance to injury and healing, as he survive being impaled, set afire, and stabbed with a dagger, eventually recovering to the peak of his health. However, it was at least believed that he could not survive decapitation.
He was strong, comparable in physical power to Conan the Cimmerian.
Presumably both relating to tracking skills gained as a Cimmerian and being instilled with the spirit of some beast, Grimm is an expert tracker, and he can allegedly locate a target no matter where he or she goes. He is also a master of stealth, approaching even seasoned warriors without being heard.
The mystic and tortuous rituals that transformed him apparently
instilled him with the spirit of a beast and made him into a
more feral, savage, bloodthirsty creature, slaying any he perceived as
having failed him. He would howl like a wolf after tearing out a foe's
throat. He also apparently no longer had any interest in romance.
However, he retained his combat and strategic
skills, and he could readily spot treachery.
He was a highly skilled warrior, able to fight multiple foes with a sword in each hand, even before his transformation. He typically carried both a tulwar (a curved sword) and a ritualistic dagger. He was also an experienced equestrian.
Presumably a result of the changes in his oral structure, he typically speaks in a whispered voice, although this was not always clearly shown.
Height: Unrevealed (Grimm was comparable in height to the 6'5" Conan, so perhaps 6'2" to 6'5")
Weight: Unrevealed (he was more lean than the heavily muscled Conan, so perhaps 210-240 lbs.)
Eyes: Unrevealed (dark, either dark brown or possibly even black)
Hair: Black
History:
(Savage
Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb) - BTS) <Years before the main story>
- The Cimmerians Grimm and Svenno of the Greybear clan departed
Cimmeria.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb)) - They
eventually traveled to northern Turan with a roving band from Aesgaard,
joining them in their quest for plunder. Grimm and Svenno were both
proud of being the only two Cimmerians of any tribe in recent memory to
have roamed so far afield.
At the edge of a glacier, they came upon the towering citadel that was the destination for the Aesir raiders, the forgotten city of Yahlgan, long sacred to the Hyrkanians' god, Erlik. The group had no idea they were being watched from hiding until death suddenly burst upon them from all sides: The fabled Black Monks of Yahlgan and the fanatical troops those devil-worshippers commanded. Most of the group was slain in the first seconds of the ambush, and before long, only Grimm and Svenno remained alive and fighting. Grimm's deftly wielding a blade in each hand amazed Svenno; when a momentary gap opened in their foes' ranks, Grimm cried out that they should both mount the only riderless horse remaining in reach and hope that it could bear both their weights.
However, considering the situation hopeless, Svenno, in a blind panic, struck Grimm from behind with the hilt of his sword and fled on the horse, leaving his friend and tribesman alone before the merciless blades of Yahlgan.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb) - BTS) - Svenno returned home, assuming for years that Grimm had died.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb) - BTS / Savage Sword of Conan#235 (fb) - BTS) - Over the course of over a year, the black-robed monks of Erlik gave Grimm the "Brand of the Hound," carving his face to give him a wide mouth and somehow granting him enlarged, sharpened teeth.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb) - BTS) - They further instilled in him something of the beast they had copied, enabling him to track someone no matter where he or she hid. Grimm nearly died several times, despite the monks' skills at keeping him alive, but his desire for vengeance against Svenno for abandoning him kept him him going.
In Yahlgan, Grimm witnessed women skinned alive slowly.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235 (fb) - BTS) - Grimm heard a prophecy handed down for generations that a man of Cimmeria would one day rise to be a king of one of the civilized lands. Even though he was being tortured, Grimm exulted, as he felt that he would be that man.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb) - BTS) - After making Grimm the horror that he now was, the monks drove him forth.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb) - BTS) - After almost forgetting his shameful acts, Svenno saw Grimm while hunting near their village and learned what had been done to him, either from Grimm himself or from others to whom Grimm had told the tale. Regardless, Grimm had wanted Svenno to know this and to fear and suffer as Grimm had feared and suffered prior to taking his revenge.
Svenno fled to the remote wilderness.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb) - BTS) - A group of Picts encountered Grimm in the Cimmerian woods near Svenno's cabin. Unable to kill him, a trio of the Picts (presumably the survivors, including Ju-Ho) agreed to serve him. They knew him as the Hound, and had witnessed his biting out a man's throat.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb) - BTS) - A Cimmerian from another tribe told Glorana that her maternal uncle Svenno had wanted her there with him. Alongside her clansmen Hakar and Tibior, Glorana traveled toward Svenno's cabin.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb) - BTS) - Grimm tore out part of the ear, and chunks of flesh from the throat and parts of the jaw of Tibior.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 - BTS) - Fleeing through the Cimmerian woods, the mortally wounded Tibior encountered the 16-year-old Conan (who had been sent to warn locals of a Pictish war party), living only long enough to beg for help, to note that the man who had killed his body wanted his soul, and to fearfully note the face of his killer; the young but battle-hardened Conan was disturbed to note Tibior's wounds, which he thought to have been possibly delivered by a gigantic bear.
Tibior's associates Hakar and Glorana then approached, after which they heard Grimm's harsh whisper of a voice threaten that all of them would be dead before morning. Hakar and Glorana then led Conan to the cabin of Glorana's uncle, Svenno, who related his history with Grimm. Hearing of Glorana's summoning, Svenno accused Conan, who angrily departed.
Conan regretted leaving Glorana behind, but as he reconsidered, he was ambushed, knocked out and tied to stake by Ju-Ho and his two other Pict allies.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb) - BTS) - Grimm arrived at Svenno's cabin, fatally biting out Hakar's throat, overpowering and binding Svenno's arms, and tying Glorana's hands and feet atop a table.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb) - BTS) - Recovering, Conan freed himself as the Picts told him of "the Hound," with one of them noting that the Hound might be a werewolf. Overcoming and/or slaying these Picts, Conan rushed back to Svenno's cabin.
(Savage
Sword of Conan I#219/3 (fb)) - With Svenno lost in madness, Grimm
related his history to Glorana. Noting how Svenno had grown soft and
would die far too easily, Grimm discussed how he would prolong his
punishment by skinning Glorana alive. He further horrified Glorana by
pulling down the cloth covering his lower face and revealing his
monstrous mouth. Before he could cut into Glorana, Conan broke in
(having been nearly mesmerized by Grimm's story and features) and
tackled Grimm to the ground. Matching Conan's strength, Grimm
threatened Conan with teeth and blade; briefly paralyzed by a new
sensation, fear, Conan desperately kicked Grimm away and then hurled
the Pictish spear he had claimed into Grimm's abdomen. 
As Conan freed Glorana, flames from the lantern overturned when Conan tackled Grimm spread throughout the cabin, and the flaming and impaled Grimm howled as he dove atop Svenno and tore out his throat. Throwing the ritual dagger Grimm had planned to use on Glorana into Grimm's back with all of his might, Conan then fled the cabin with Glorana. As the cabin was consumed in flames, Conan believed Grimm to have perished within.
...but he did not...
(Savage Sword of Conan I#218 (fb) - BTS) - A recovered Grimm came to serve Turanian king Yildiz and prince Yezdigerd.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#218 (fb) - BTS) - Grimm razed Razadan to the ground.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235 (fb) - BTS) - Knowing that Prince Yezdigerd wished the death of his daughter Yolinda, who had born monstrous offspring after being raped by one of the Ape-Lords and who had fled to Kherdpur (where dwelled children believed to have been monstrously transformed by some unknown factor, either magic or some mutagen in the air or water) with her children (Salbatanu and Zosara), Juma joined the Turanian army group including Grimm, which headed out for the steppes, as Juma hoped to lead Conan to Kherdpur to protect Yolinda.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#218 (fb) - BTS) - Grimm was sent to relay a message to Prince Yezdigerd that he must return at once to Aghrapur. Acknowledging this, Yezdigerd placed Grimm in charge of his troops after his departure.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#218) - Zorka, who had fomented rebellion against Conan and ultimately escaped after Conan united the Kozaks and Free Companions, told Yezdigerd of Conan's plots. Unimpressed and considering Zorka a traitor for betraying his people, Yezdigerd turned Zorka over to Grimm. Zorka recognized Grimm and recited his past accomplishments, after which Yezdigerd instructed Grimm to kill Zorka. Although Zorka stole a sword from a Turanian soldier, Grimm told the other soldiers they need not intervene and demonstrated how he could parry his challengers thrust and slay him any time he liked. After Grimm sliced Zorka's cheek, Zorka raged that Grimm had scarred him for life, but Grimm swiftly beheaded Zorka, noting that this scarred life only lasted for moments and that people would far sooner notice his lack of having a head.
Grimm then assured Yezdigerd that he could hold the area until Yezdigerd could raise an army to deal with united Kozak bands. Further detailing his wish to smite the Kozaks with vastly superior numbers, Grimm reminded Yezdigerd of his own desire to slay Conan.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#218 - BTS) - Learning from a Kozak who had been spying on the Turanian camp that Grimm had been left in charge, a disquieted Conan warned the others that if Grimm led Yildiz's forces, they were in for a fight such as no other could give them. Zula wondered what kind of man could make Conan blanch with something that seemed akin to fear.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 - BTS) - Conan recalled his previous encounter with Grimm, during which he subconsciously crushed his drinking goblet. When his ally Zula asked about this Grimm who seemed to concern him greatly, Conan assured Zula that he was not worried.
(Savage
Sword of Conan I#223/2 - BTS) - Conan and Red Sonja accompanied the
Pictish shaman Gonar to a cave holding the Mirrors of Tuzun Thune. In
the Mirrors' presence, Gonar sensed that this was a nexus time in
Conan's life, a time of destiny when many who had been important to him
would be again. Gonar specifically noted awareness of the name Grimm
hovering in the air, and Conan dourly acknowledged his knowledge of
that being.
(Savage
Sword of Conan I#231 - BTS) - A duplicate of Conan (created by the
wizard Tuzun Thune via his magic mirrors while the real Conan, Red
Sonja, and Gonar were banished into the past) arrived at the Kozak/Free
Companion's base, alongside a similarly duplicated Red Sonja and Thune
in the form of Gonar, and told his gathered forces that they would
strike against Commander Grimm as soon as they could lay plans. This
earned some questioning of his true identity from the likes of Zula,
who noted that Grimm's army was far too strong for a bunch of
half-organized Kozaki to assault directly with any hope of success; and
from Turgohl, who signed that Conan had told him it would take many
months to build up their forces for an attack.
Eventually, after the Conan duplicate had seemingly proved his true
identity, Thune trapped the souls of Zula, Turgohl, and Fafnir
Hellhand, three of Conan's most loyal allies within one of his mirror
shards.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#231 (fb) - BTS) - Commander Grimm led his Turanian soldiers to ambush a Kozaki band.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#232) - Grimm watched on horseback from a hill as his soldiers finished off most of the Kozaki. However, the last surviving pair of Kozaki broke free, slaying and wounding to the archers standing by Grimm's side before slashing Grimm's stallion, causing it to fall and drop Grimm to the ground. As one of the Kozaki approached the fallen Grimm with his sword raised, Juma, hurled a spear that slew that Kozak. Given time to recover, Grimm leapt to his feet and attacked the last remaining Kozak, although their clashing swords caught each other, disarming both men. The swift and savage Grimm overpowered his foe, biting out his throat just as Juma and the other onrushing Turanians arrived, after which he released an inhuman howl.
When the startled wounded archer noted that he thanked the god Tarim that Grimm was unhurt, Grimm beheaded the archer, telling to thank Tarim in person, after which he explained that the archer's duty was to die defending him, but the archer had only been wounded. Grimm then thanked Juma and asked his name, promising him a battlefield promotion.
(Savage Sword of Conan#233 (fb) - BTS) - Juma was promoted to major in Grimm's troops.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#232 - BTS) - The real Conan and Red Sonja returned to their Kozak allies and thwarted Thune's plot, leading to the freeing of their imprisoned foes, the destruction of the duplicates, and at least the seeming death of Thune.
(Savage
Sword of Conan#233) - When Grimm's cavalry
happened upon a group of Turanian soldiers recently slaughtered and
looted by a group of
Kozaks under Conan,
Grimm had Juma slay the wounded Amir Saltim, noting that he would never
fight again even if he recovered and that he was disgraced by his
defeat. Grimm was impressed as Juma did the
deed with a single stroke, noting he needed men with a killer instinct,
because he wanted Conan, and he would make rich any man who could
deliver
Conan to him. Explaining that he had not had a chance to mention it
until now, Juma told Grimm how he knew Conan; Grimm was intrigued with
this information. 
(Savage Sword of Conan#233 (fb) - BTS) - Juma seemingly plotted to trap Conan for Grimm.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235 (fb) - BTS) - Knowing Grimm knew of the "monsters" below Kherdpur, Juma suggested they have Conan be slain by these "fiends of the pit."
(Savage Sword of Conan#234 (fb) - BTS) - Grimm did not completely trust Juma as he had been friend to both Conan and Yolinda.
(Savage Sword of Conan#233 - BTS) - A few nights later, Juma met with Conan, telling him that he had finally left Turan's cavalry after all these years after having finally become certain that the Kozak Conan was the same Conan he'd known; he further added that he didn't relish serving under the "not quite human" Commander Grimm. Zula asked if he had met Grimm, and Juma told Zula that, to Grimm, he was just another horse-hugger, and a dark-skinned outlander, to boot. Juma ultimately convinced Conan to accompany him to Kherdpur under the notion that Yolinda might be able to talk her doting grandfather, King Yildiz, out of trying to annex the Steppes.
(Savage Sword of Conan#233 (fb) - BTS) - Not trusting Juma, Zula followed Juma and Conan to Kherdpur.
(Savage Sword of Conan#233 - BTS) - Juma led Conan into a trap and cast him into a pit where the "monsters" of Kherdpur dwelled. Zula arrived and confronted Juma, but as more Turanian soldiers arrived, he jumped into the pit into which Conan had been cast.
(Savage Sword of Conan#233) - As Conan and Zula fell before a wave of monstrous creatures, Grimm appeared, his stealthy approach surprising even Juma. After Grimm noted how Conan would soon find out if dead Cimmerians stood before mighty Crom on the far side of death; Juma added that if Conan did face Crom, it wouldn't be in the flesh, as the subterraneans creatures were cannibals (if they could be considered human).
(Savage
Sword of Conan#234 - BTS) - Yolinda stopped the monstrous creatures
(including her children Zosara and Salbatanu) from attacking Conan and
Zula. 
(Savage Sword of Conan#234) - Grimm instructed a Turanian captain to speak in front of Major Juma as in front of him alone, and they then listened as the Turanian captain reviewed Yezdigerd's plans. When one of Grimm's aides asked about about Yildiz's brother, Prince Tespaya, Grimm tore out the throat of his aide, as Yildiz had named death as the penalty for speaking his exiled brother's name.
After the Turanian captain had fled in nausea, Juma subsequently covered for him, telling Grimm the captain had excused himself due an upset stomach due to his long journey. Mocking the captain as a weakling, Grimm noted Juma to be a man, like him, who knew the thrill of the hunt, with savage yearnings only satisfied by the spilling of blood. Acknowledging that Juma likely still had yearnings that he (Grimm) had long left behind, Grimm summoned three handmaidens of Erlik to spend time with him to help deal with those yearnings. With a grin, Juma departed with the ladies, promising to rejoin him in a little while.
(Savage Sword of Conan#234 (fb) - BTS) - Drinking less than one cup of wine for every two he filled of the ladies', Juma waited for them to pass out.
(Savage Sword of Conan#234) - Juma returned to Princess Yolinda's deserted chambers where he opened the trap door and called to Yolinda and Conan. However, he was then confronted by Grimm (alongside a group of Turanian soldiers), who asked Juma if he really believed he would simply trust one who had been friend to both Kozak Hetman Conan and to Princess Yolinda; Grimm further asked Juma if he wanted to tell him why he had betrayed Conan into his hands. When Juma said that was his secret, Grimm told Juma he would take that secret to his grave. Juma drew his sword and charged the soldiers, noting that if Conan and Zula had perished at his fault, he was proud to go down fighting that same night. As Grimm ordered him taken alive, Juma took advantage of their holding back to strike down one or two, but then Grimm himself leapt on Juma, biting his neck sufficiently to incapacitate him; not wishing to partake of the blood of the "darker races," however, Grimm did not feast on him.
Grimm then carried Juma to the larger portal and dropped him into the pit to be consumed by the creatures therein. Grimm further noted that Juma was right in that Yezdigerd had decided he did want Yolinda slain, and that they would soon confirm Conan's death and then locate and slay Yolinda. Grimm then tossed a burning torch into the pit, allowing Juma to see the "horned horror" (actually Yolinda's son, Salbatanu) standing over him.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235 (fb) - BTS) - Grimm gave orders not to be disturbed while watching the dismemberment of a turncoat.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235) - When a guard told Grimm that he had a visitor in the temple above, Grimm asked if the guard knew what happened to those who disobeyed his orders. However, when the guard noted that it was Shar Amurath on a mission from Prince Yezdigerd who demanded an audience at once. Acknowledging that he must go, Grimm ordered the portal to the pit closed, as if could not watch Juma's death, no one else would have that pleasure.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235 - BTS) - After Conan and Zula came to Juma's aid and threatened to slay Salbatanu, Yolinda ordered the fight to halt and revealed that Salbatanu was her child, as well.
(Savage
Sword of Conan#235) - Shah Amurath ordered Yolinda's death on
behalf of Prince Yezdigerd (now as a matter of discrete urgency, with
King Yildiz not expected to live much longer), and Grimm assured him he
would see to it.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235 - BTS) - After Yolinda noted that Conan that Juma had lured Conan to Kherdpur on her behalf, Conan and Zula nonetheless departed, both still not fully trusting Juma and wishing to get back to their Kozak companions.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235) - When Juma resolved to stay with Yolinda and to protect her, the two voiced their feelings for each other and then kissed; Grimm interrupted their moment, hurling a spear through Yolinda's daughter, Zosara.
Juma swore to gut Grimm and joined Salbatanu in charging him, but Grimm had a net dropped on Salbatanu, after which his men filled the creature with spears.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235 (fb) - BTS) - Juma dropped the soldier nearest Grimm.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235) - As Juma turned to rush Grimm, however, the soldier he had just taken down struck out with his sword, striking Juma in the thigh. Grimm complimented the soldier, noting that Juma wouldn't be so lively with the use of only one leg. Telling Juma that he was no slouch with a sword but out of his class in facing him, Grimm dropped Juma with a sword slash to his torso.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235 (fb) - BTS) - Grimm's soldiers took out the rest of the creatures in the cavern.
Yolinda called Grimm a swine, noting that he had killed both of her children, and Grimm added that she and Juma would soon join them on Tarim's doorstep, but as they had caused him considerable trouble, he decided he wished to have some sport with them before releasing their souls to the gods.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235) - Grimm instructed his soldiers to bring Juma and Yolinda with them...
(Savage Sword of Conan#235 (fb) - BTS) - ...to the temple of Kherdpur, where they were both bound at the wrist to a hanging wooden pole.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235 - BTS) - Mortally wounded, Zosara was able to reach Conan and Zula and get their attention before she died. With a Turanian spear stuck in her, Conan realized what had happened. Cursing himself for having failed to kill Grimm years ago, he blamed himself for the death of Zosara, and presumably, he thought, Juma and Yolinda as well. Zula joined Conan in going back for them.
(Savage Sword of Conan#235) - Juma denounced Grimm as a jackal that would kill a helpless woman and her children. After Grimm discussed the prophecy he believed indicated he would one day be king, Juma asked that he spare Yolinda, send her away, and tell Yezdigerd he had killed her. Mocking their interracial love, Grimm slashed both their wrists with his dagger to intermingle their blood. As he prepared to see just how deep Juma's dark color went, however, Grimm was interrupted by Conan and Zula, along with the mortally wounded Salbatanu, rushing in and attacking his soldiers.
Seeking to carry out the commands of his prince before dealing with these interlopers, Grimm raised his ritualistic dagger above Yolinda, but Conan tackled Grimm away; the snarling Grimm hurled his dagger at its target, but it missed, lodging between her and Juma in the wooden pole to which they were bound.
Grimm drew his
tulwar, and as he and Conan faced
off with their swords, Grimm told Conan that this moment had been a
long time coming but that he would savor it for the rest of his life.
As their swords repeated clashed, they eventually shattered, after
which they grappled
hand-to-hand; meanwhile, Juma cut the ropes binding one of his hands
against the dagger lodged next to it. 
Grimm tackled Conan off his feet and bit him in the left forearm, and then, despite Conan's efforts, Grimm moved his jaws ever closer to Conan's face. Having cut himself free, the sorely weakened Juma lurched forward with a dagger, barely grazing Grimm, but causing him to rear back in surprise. Seizing the opportunity to grab a nearby sword, Conan decapitated Grimm and then yelled in triumph while holding Grimm's still grinning head high in the air.
With Yolinda having apparently perished (either from fresh or previously inflicted wounds) and a group of Turanian soldiers rushing in, Zula convinced Juma to flee with him and Conan; Conan dropped a board into the door latch, temporarily trapping the soldiers (to stay with their commander) and allowing the trio to escape.
Comments: Adam Grimm created by Robert E. Howard;
Grimm adapted to Marvel by Roy Thomas, Mike Docherty, and E.Z. Cruz.
Grimm was described as "a man with a mirthless smile as wide as the yawning gates of Arallu, and teeth as sharp as a tiger's."
Per "Roy's Ramblings" in Savage Sword of Conan I#219:
"The Black Hound of Death"...is based on a story by Robert E. Howard published in Weird Tales for November, 1936. Set in the Louisiana bayou country, it pitted its 20th-century hero Kirby Garfield against a gruesome, crazed fiend named Adam Grimm, in events quite close to those in our adaptation, with allowances for the Hyborian-Age setting.
In one sense, however, Adam Grimm himself was an adaptation.
In 1927, Universal Pictures had starred Conrad Veidt as "The Man Who Laughs," a gent whose face had been permanently sculpted by an eastern cult into a grotesque, mile-wide smile -- a film based on the novel by Victor Hugo, author also of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Veidt's make-up (by Jack Pierce, of later "Frankenstein" fame) and the hero's origins clearly served as the inspiration of Adam Grimm in "The Black Hound of Death" -- just as they were destined to fo, several years later, for the creation of Batman's arch-enemy, the Joker.
REH added to Hugo's and Universal's vision, however, a canine-like howling and a set of fangs, to justify the "hound" image -- while we, in turn, made our Grimm a Cimmerian, one of the few besides Conan ever to venture outside the borders of that reclusive land. Commander Grimm has miles to go before he lets anyone sleep.
--Savage Sword of Conan#218 (219, 223, [231], 232, 233, 234,235d)
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Grimm/Black Hound of Death should be distinguished from:
Appearances:
"Black Hound of Death," Weird Tales (November, 1936) - Robert E. Howard (writer)
Savage
Sword of Conan I#218 (February, 1994) - Roy Thomas (writer), Mike
Docherty (penciler), E.Z. Cruz (inker), Michael Kraiger (assistant
editor), Richard Ashford (editor)
Savage Sword of Conan I#219/3 "Black Hound of Death" (March, 1994) - Roy
Thomas (writer), Mike Docherty (penciler), E.Z. Cruz (inker), Michael
Kraiger (assistant editor), Richard Ashford (editor)
Savage Sword of Conan I#223/2 "The Many Mirrors of Tuzun Thune" (July, 1994) - Roy
Thomas (writer), Mike Docherty (penciler), E.Z. Cruz (inker), Michael
Kraiger (assistant editor), Richard Ashford (editor)
Savage Sword of Conan I#231 "A Remembrance of Fires Past" (March, 1995) - Roy
Thomas (writer), Mike Docherty (penciler), E.Z. Cruz (inker), Timothy Tuohy (editor)
Savage Sword of Conan I#232 "Reflections of Evil" (April, 1995) - Roy
Thomas (writer), Mike Docherty (penciler), E.Z. Cruz (inker), Richard Ashford, Michael
Kraiger, Timothy Tuohy (consultants), Mike Lackey (editor)
Savage Sword of Conan I#233 "Here be Monsters" (May, 1995) - Roy
Thomas (writer), Mike Docherty (penciler), Geof Isherwood (inker), Timothy Tuohy (consultant), Mike Lackey (editor)
Savage
Sword of Conan#234 (June, 1995) - Roy Thomas (writer), Mike Docherty
(penciler), Ralph Reese (inker), Mike Lackey (editor)
Savage
Sword of Conan#235 (July, 1995) - Roy Thomas (writer), Mike Docherty
(artist), Mike Lackey (editor)
First posted: 11/06/2021
Last updated: 11/06/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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