PRINCE
THANN
PRINCE
THANN
Real Name: Thann
Identity/Class: Human royalty; Hyborian era
Occupation: Prince of Yaralet
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Conan,
Fafnir
Hellhand,
Hidilco, Tammuz, the people of Yaralet;
formerly
Atalis
Enemies: Atalis, Free Companions, Munthassem Khan, Nergal, Tacqui
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Yaralet, Turan
First Appearance: (Conan mythos) "The Hand of Nergal,"
Conan (1967, Lancer Books)
(Marvel Universe) Conan the Barbarian I#30 (September, 1973)
Powers/Abilities: Thann did not demonstrate any particular skills, though he had earned the loyalty of the guards of the palace of Yaralet.
History:
(Conan the Barbarian I#30 (fb) - BTS) - Munthassem Khan, the satrap of Yaralet,
was driven to cruel madness by the Hand of Nergal. He had
all wizards of Yaralet slain, but he allowed the philosopher Atalis to survive.
However, he cursed Atalis with fits of agony. In addition, Munthassem Khan cause
Prince Thann to develop fits of blindness.
(Conan the Barbarian I#30 (fb) - BTS) - Atalis joined forces with Thann and sent the Brythunian woman, Hidilco, to recruit the aid of the Cimmerian barbarian Conan who had recently acquired the Heart of Tammuz, the counter-talisman to the Hand of Nergal, though it could be best wielded in the hands of a woman.
(Conan
the Barbarian I#30) - Hidilco enlisted the services of Conan while Atalis and
Thann debated over whether she would succeed. Atalis knew that the presence of
the Shadows of Nergal indicated Munthassem was deep in dreams of the lotus.
Atalis then suffered a fit of agony, and Thann a fit of blindness, after which
Hidilco arrived at Atalis' chamber. Atalis told Conan of Munthassem Khan and the Hand of Nergal,
and also shared that Conan's new possession was the Heart of Tammuz, which was
the Hand's counter-talisman. Atalis led Conan and Thann into Munthassem Khan's chamber, intending to
ambush the still-drugged Munthassem, but Munthassem suddenly awoke, announcing that he
had been expecting them (he had sensed Atalis peering at him through his mystic
crystal). Munthassem Khan swiftly dropped Atalis and Thann with their fits of
pain and blindness. Conan rushed to the attack, but as he knew not how to invoke
the Heart of Tammuz' power, Munthassem Khan struck him down as well. Hidilco
then rushed in, seemingly in anguish over Conan's injury, but she suddenly
grabbed the Heart of Tammuz and hurled it across the room, knocking the Hand of
Nergal from Munthassem Khan's clutches.
A darkly shimmering glow spread from the Hand of Nergal,
which unleashed the form of Nergal itself, while the Heart of Tammuz released
the form of Tammuz. Tammuz banished Nergal, and both the Heart and Hand vanished. Munthassem Khan was gone, as
well, leaving behind only a handful of smoldering ashes.
Atalis noted that the Heart was ever stronger than the Hand.
(Savage Sword of Conan#221 (fb) - BTS) - Prince Thann replaced Munthassem Khan as ruler of Yaralet.
(Savage
Sword of Conan#220 (fb) - BTS / Savage Sword of Conan#221 (fb) - BTS) - Atalis gained the Hand of Nergal
and the Heart of Tammuz, then ensorcelled Prince Thann, causing Thann to become
as much a tyrant as his predecessor. With the help of the Hand of Nergal, which
took the form of an immense taloned claw the size of the real Nergal's hand,
Atalis (via Thann) began trying to subdue the hills and eventually conquer
everything between Yaralet and Turan.
Atalis typically kept Thann incapacitated on the lotus drug,
reviving him only as needed from matters of state.
(Savage Sword of Conan#220) - Years later, Conan -- now leading a fighting force including the Free Companions and the Kozaks on the steppes west of Turan, rode to Northern Turan in search of allies. Conan's forces were suddenly assaulted by the immense magical Hand of Nergal, which decimated them until turning back into mist and vanishing back toward Yaralet. Conan and several other warriors traveled to Munthassem Khan's former quarters, where they were confronted by Atalis who revealed his involvement, and also revealed his warrior servant, Fafnir of the Demon Hand.
(Savage Sword of Conan#221) - Fafnir savagely defeated Conan
and allies, but Atalis stopped Fafnir from slaying Conan,
thinking that Conan might prove a valuable servant. Conan and the other men were
thrown in the dungeons, while Atalis' showed his power to Conan's new female
ally, Tacqui, using a torch to burn the face of the lotus-drugged Thann, who did
not even react. Atalis then brought Tacqui to the dungeon, where he told Conan's
group that one of them would be sent to tell their tribe that they must fall in
line with Yaralet or perish.
Conan slyly guided Taqui to use the Heart of Tammuz against
Atalis, and Tacqui struck the Heart of Tammuz against the Hand of
Nergal, stunning Fafnir. When Atalis reached for the two talismans, Conan cut
off his right hand with his word. Having only served Atalis out of fear, his
guards then stood down, pledging their allegiance to Prince Thann.
Fafnir recovered, the Heart of
Tammuz having merged with the Hand of Nergal, granting Fafnir control of his own
will and full control of his new arm's power.
Thann regained control of Yaralet.
Comments: Created by Lin Carter and Robert E. Howard.
Adapted to the Marvel Universe by Roy Thomas, John Buscema,
and Ernie Chan.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
No KNOWN connections to
images: (without ads)
Conan the Barbarian I#30, p9, panel 5 (face)
p10, panel 1 (body)
Appearances:
Conan the Barbarian I#30 (September, 1973) - by Roy Thomas (writer/editor), John
Buscema and Ernie Chan (artists)
Savage Sword of Conan#220/2-221/2 (April-May, 1994) - by Roy Thomas (writer),
Mike Docherty (penciler), E.R. Cruz (inker), Richard Ashford (editor)
Last updated: 11/30/06
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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