Barry Windsor-Smith - Tales of Hyperborea (Aspect 2 Page 11)

It looks as if my deep-rooted love for Barry Windsor-Smith's art leads me to explore some of the most obscure aspects of his formative years... Not that I complain, of course!

Sometimes, some new artifact pops in, like a unknown gem in a mine. I take it in my hand, hold it into the light and wonder and ponder: what is it? How did it come to be?...

Then, of course, I dive a little deeper and come up with whatever few facts I've been able to gather.

All this to say that this page was part of an unfinished project called Tales of Hyperborea, whose part 1 was included in the 2nd issue of a British Fanzine called Aspect that was published in March 1970 by Steve Moore and Steve Parkhouse (see additional image).
Note for the completists: the second part of the story, also in unfinished form, saw the light of day in 1971 in Orpheus 1, another fanzine by Steve Moore and Steve Parkhouse that was essentially a new name for the same type of material.

And that's about all I know!

Was this a part of Barry Windsor-Smith and Roy Thomas' entry plan into the world of Robert E. Howard while they were both patiently waiting until the rights for Conan were liberated for Marvel to publish the soon-to-be-famous comic adaptation? Your guess is as good as mine!

But a few convincing clues lead to this conclusion. First, this fanzine was published simultaneously to Chamber of Darkness 4, the Marvel Anthology title that included the Conan-Tryout "Starr the Slayer" story. Second, most convincing, is the art itself, far removed from BWS's early Kirby influences that permeate his first works at Marvel. Here, we already have the fluidity and the dynamics that will soon help him build his true unique style. Then, of course, the warrior here is still another deadringer for Conan, just like in the (also unfinished) Kull of Atlantis story, apparently drawn during the same period...

And, yes, it all adds up to a great pre-Conan BWS splash! Is it any wonder I'm happy with it, now?...