Thulsa Doom

[Supplement Four]

This is interesting. I didn't realize that Howard, himself, created Thulsa Doom. I thought he was a creation for the Arnold Conan movie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thulsa_Doom_(Robert_E._Howard)

It seems that Howard created Thulsa (a bit of a different character from James Earl Jones' portrayal) as one of the enemies of Kull.

What sparked me to look him up was that I was flipping through the Offutt Cormac Mac Art stories I have just purchased, and I flipped right onto a page with Thulsa Doom.

Doom fights Cormack Mac Art, too, the Irish decendant of both Kull and Conan.

Interesting stuff.

 

[B_Steele]

I've got good stats for Thulsa around here somewhere...maybe they will eventually see the light of day.

-Bry

 

[VincentDarlage]

It seems that Howard created Thulsa (a bit of a different character from James Earl Jones' portrayal) as one of the enemies of Kull.

Yes, Robert E. Howard created Thulsa Doom.

Note that in the Kull story, Thulsa Doom has a skull-like face. Also note that in "The Cat and the Skull" Thulsa Doom masqueraded as "Kuthulos." Also, Thulsa Doom does not die at the end of that tale.

Now, here is where I think it gets interesting... in REH's "Skull Face" (a more-or-less modern day tale), the villain with the skull-like face masquerades as "Kathulos." That villain is also claims to be a sorcerer who was around "before the sea rose and engulfed" the mist sea lands he once lived in - claiming later to come from Atlantis. His physical description matches that of Thulsa Doom.

I think they are one and the same. If so, Thulsa Doom existed from Kull's time until at least the 1920's or '30's - making him a possible villain during the Hyborian age. It also makes him available to fight Cormac Mac Art, as Andrew Offut apparently thought also.

Personally, I think any description of Thulsa Doom (or stats) without reference to "Skull Face" and his powers and such described in that tale is incomplete. I think the villains of both stories are one and the same. It wouldn't be the first time Hyborian age material managed to appear in Robert E. Howard's modern day tales (see "The Haunter of the Ring" by REH to see a modern-day appearance of Thoth-amon's ring from "Phoenix on the Sword).

 

[The King]

I would even go farther and consider Thulsa Doom as the first Lich of fantasy history.

 

[Malcadon]

Personally, I think any description of Thulsa Doom (or stats) without reference to "Skull Face" and his powers and such described in that tale is incomplete. I think the villains of both stories are one and the same. It wouldn't be the first time Hyborian age material managed to appear in Robert E. Howard's modern day tales (see "The Haunter of the Ring" by REH to see a modern-day appearance of Thoth-amon's ring from "Phoenix on the Sword).

How ironic it would be if the left Earth to rule another, more magical world? :wink:

 

[VincentDarlage]

How ironic it would be if the left Earth to rule another, more magical world? :wink:

You are aware, I hope, of the (possibly urban) legend that He-Man got its start as a toyline of Conan toys - and Skeletor was Thulsa Doom. Something went screwy with the license and the toy company had to repaint them and package them as something new - and then commissioned a cartoon so they could sell them. That is one reason why He-Man has such a dorky name - the switch from Conan to something new was that fast.

I never checked on the accuracy of the story, but I have heard it repeated a lot.

 

[Korppis]

hmmm, now when you think about it, He-Man with more tanned skin and black hair (and without that silly breastplate) would look lots like conan from marvel comics...

 

[Malcadon]

You are aware, I hope, of the (possibly urban) legend that He-Man got its start as a toyline of Conan toys - and Skeletor was Thulsa Doom. Something went screwy with the license and the toy company had to repaint them and package them as something new - and then commissioned a cartoon so they could sell them. That is one reason why He-Man has such a dorky name - the switch from Conan to something new was that fast.

I'm well aware of it. Oddly enough, the little comics that came with the first wave of toys had a vary different backstory then what would see in the cartoon - which had a more S&S feel then the morality play that was the cartoon. The creators downplay the Conan connection, but an idiot could see the strong similarities. And yes, the names they gave them are incredibly lazy! :roll:

It something of joke amongst toy fans how the Golden Girl Story Book was more violent then He-Man, and Golden Girl is targeted at girls! :lol:

 

[VincentDarlage]

Interesting information. I don't know much about He-Man's backstory one way or the other (his name rather turned me off, actually), although I remember wanting the Castle Grayskull playset to use with my Star Wars action figures.