Kuroba (Bogondi; 16th century Africa; Solomon Kane character)

goru-bogondi-kane-full kuroba-bogondi-kane-face KUROBA

Real Name: Kuroba

Identity/Class: Human
16^th century;
African (Bogondi tribe)

Occupation: Chieftain

Group Membership: Bogondi tribe (Goru, Loga, Nayela, numerous others unidentified; all apparently deceased)

Affiliations: Solomon Kane

Enemies: The Akaana

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Old Kuroba"

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
formerly Bogonda of the Shadow (formerly Upper Bogonda), a village in an unidentified region of 16^th century Africa

First Appearance: Weird Tales Volume 20, Issue 1 (July, 1932): "Wings in the Night";
(Marvel) Savage Sword of Conan I#53/2 (June, 1980) kuroba-bogondi-kane-upper

Powers/Abilities: Kuroba was experienced and knowledgeable as the chieftain of the Bogondi. Even in age he was able to fight off monstrous Akaana with an axe. He also carried and was presumably experienced with a spear.

Height: Unrevealed (perhaps 6'; he was markedly taller than his witch doctor, Goru)
Weight: Unrevealed (perhaps 200 lbs.; see comments)
Eyes: Unrevealed (dark; presumably brown)
Hair: Black

History:

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 (fb) - BTS) - Kuroba was the chieftain of the Bogondi people who had resigned themselves to living in terror of the winged Akaana creatures.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 (fb)) - After years of drought and famine, the Akaana attacked more frequently and savagely, nourishing themselves by feasting on the Bogondi.

(Savage Sword of Conan#53/2 (fb) - BTS) <Late 16^th century; see comments> - The people of Lower Bogonda eventually revolted, and the Akaana slew the entire population of that village.

(Savage Sword of Conan#53/2 (fb) - BTS) - Seeking to avoid Lower Bogonda's fate, the people of Upper Bogonda began to offer a human sacrifice -- chosen by lot -- to the Akaana at each moon, binding the victim to a stake between the two Bogondan villages

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 - BTS) - After slaying an Akaana, Puritan warrior Solomon Kane was knocked unconscious and presumably severely concussed and/or soon after suffering from infection from the creature's claw rents, at least.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 (fb) - BTS) - Kane was found by the villagers of Bogonda and brought to their village, where they cared for him as he raved in delirium for many days.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 - BTS) - Some young Bogondi had witnessed Kane's shooting and killing of two Akaana, and they told this to their witch doctor, Goru. Goru recognized Kane's Staff of Solomon as having been the sceptre of fallen empires and the staff of mighty priests.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2) - Koruba was present alongside Goru when Kane finally regained consciousness. When Kane ravenously devoured the offered food, Goru noted that he was like a leopard and that he admired him, for not one man in a thousand would have survived his wounds. When Kuroba agreed and noted to Goru that he had also slain that Akaana that had attacked him. Nonetheless, Kane collapsed after becoming upset in the subsequent discussion.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 - BTS) - When Kane revived again, Nayela cared for him, telling him how their tribe was ruled by their chief Koruba and priest Goru. After eating, Kane insisted on seeing Goru again.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2) - In the succeeding days as Kane recovered, Goru and Koruba sat with him, telling him of how their Bogondi had traveled there some 150 years ago, after which the Akaana had begun to attack them and to prevent their departure. Goru finally noted how, in desperation to avoid Lower Bogonda's fate, they had turned to human sacrifice.

    Kuroba stood by as Goru promised to do no more sacrifices if Kane would save them from the Akaana, noting that while Kane may not be a god, he had the power of a god in him. He promised they would make him king, god, or whatever they wanted, and Goru continued that the Akaana had stayed away from their village since his arrival despite the time of the sacrifice having come and gone.

    Noting that he had little powder for his pistols and could slay a few of the fiends, Kane noted that the cannibals remained a threat even if he somehow slew the fiends. When Kuroba voiced that the cannibals, too, would fear him, Kane confirmed that the would stay there to protect them in hopes of ridding the land of evil.

((Sword of) Solomon Kane#6 (fb) - BTS) - Kane remained in Bogonda of the Shadow for months (at least two months since his injurious fall).

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 (fb) - BTS) - As Kane slept one night, the Akaana attacked en masse, slaughtering the people of Bogonda.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 (fb) - BTS) - The Akaana decapitated Goru and left his head on his hut (or on a stick by his hut, see comments).

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 - BTS) - Kane was awakened by the screams, and he rushed outside to attack the Akaana furiously with pistol, dagger, rapier, and axe. As Kuroba wielded an axe, slaying at least one of the Akaana while others surrounded him, Kane began to rush to his aid. However, hearing the screams of Nayela, Kane instead slew her attacker, although she soon perished from her wounds anyway. When Kane turned back to Kuroba, he saw only a huddled cluster of Akaana, tearing at the fallen form among them.

    The Akaana ultimately fled from Kane's furious assault, but they carried with them the few survivors, slaying them as they flew above.

    Apparently, none of the Bogondi survived the Akaan assault.

(Savage Sword of Conan#54/2 - BTS) - Vowing vengeance, Kane reinforced the witch doctor Goru's hut with thick layers of vine-bound bamboo. He then slew any easy prey the Akaana could have for weeks before slaying a captured buffalo outside Goru's hut, slinging its blood into the air so its scent would draw in the Akaana. He then cut apart the buffalo and brought its parts into the hut, after which he retired to a nearby wooden region and waited.

Apparently all of the starving Akaana soon arrived, drawn by the scent, and they entered the hut, which Kane then set aflame after trapping them within.

Comments: Created by Robert Ervin Howard.
Adapted to Marvel by Don Glut and David Wenzel...and then again by Ralph Macchio, John Ridgeway, and Al Williamson.

According to what I see in superficial research, Wings in the Night was REH's last Solomon Kane story published during his lifetime.

I don't whether REH's original story had Kuroba as a man with black hair and no headdress who carried a spear (as in Savage Sword of Conan) or as a man with a white headdress who carried some lion-claw-like totem (as in(Sword of) Solomon Kane).

Regardless, it seems a shame not to show the images we have in color, so here they are!

The (Sword of) Solomon Kane version didn't make it clear that Bogondi had first come there 150 years earlier, and an image of their arrival there seemed to show Goru and Koruba. I'm taking that picture as representing Goru and Koruba, but just not at the time the Bogondi first settled there.

kuroba-bogondi-kane-sosk-upper-rearob

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Goru should be distinguished from:

KURODA - Hand--New Avengers#11
KUROKAWA, SAM - marketing, used as sleeper assassin by Silver Wolf, slew Kirk Applewood, freed from programming and hired by Sable & Fortune--Sable & Fortune#4
KUROKAZE - one of Japan's five "Swords of Secrets," acquired by the Path of Destiny <The Black Wind>--[X-Men: Kitty Pryde: Shadow & Flame#3], 4
KUROKO ( ) - Pacific Overlords, willing servant of Dr. Demonicus, assisted him in plans to create isle of Demonica, named for the character in Japanese theatre who is dressed entirely in black and can rearrange scenery while the play is in motion, remaining "invisible" to the actors and audience by mutual consent. Able to make body invisible -The Black One--Avengers West Coast#69
KUROV, WASSILY - former president of Slovenia, revealed as a Skrull--Skrull Kill Krew#2
KUROYAMA - undead agent of the Hand, giant warrior, killed Nina McCabe - aka BLACK MOUNTAIN--Elektra I#14
other "Kuro" characters

images: (without ads)

Savage Sword of Conan I#54/4, story pg 2, panel 2 (upper);
          panel 3 (full; tiny);
        panel 7 (face);
       pg. 11, panel 7 (fighting Akaana);
(Sword of) Solomon Kane#6, pg. 7, panel 4 (full body; or predecessor, see comments);
        pg. 9, panel 1 (face with headdress);
          panel 3 (rear oblique);

Appearances:
Weird Tales Volume 20, Issue 1 (July, 1932): "Wings in the Night" - Robert Ervin Howard (writer)
Savage Sword of Conan I#53/3 (June, 1980) - Don Glut (script), David Wenzel (art), Mark Gruenwald (associate editor), Lynn Graeme (consulting editor), Roy Thomas (editor)
Savage Sword of Conan I#54/4 (July, 1980) - Don Glut (script), David Wenzel (art), Mark Gruenwald (associate editor), Lynn Graeme (consulting editor), Roy Thomas (editor)
(Sword of) Solomon Kane#6 (July, 1986) - Ralph Macchio (script), John Ridgeway (penciler), Al Williamson (inker), Carl Potts (inker)

First posted: 09/15/2021
Last updated: 12/18/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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