KULAMTU
Classification: Terrestrial flora (Hyborian era)
Location/Base of Operations: Gamburu; Darfar; the Black Kingdoms of the Hyborian era
First Appearance: Conan the Buccaneer (Lancer
Books, 1971);
(in Marvel Comics, unidentified): Savage Sword of
Conan I#41 (June, 1979);
(in Marvel Comics, identified): Savage Sword of
Conan I#42 (July, 1979)
Powers/Abilities: The Kulamtu are massive
plants which can feed upon whole living mammals. The fronds of the
plants are attracted to nearby beings and can extend to wrap around
them. Once the fronds have enwrapped a human, it takes a considerable
amount of strength to break free of their hold. The inside part of the
fronds secretes a powerful acid which begins to break down the victim
for digestion. The mouth of the Kulamtu is found at the top of the
plant stalk; the fronds raise their victims up and lower them inside
the mouth for digestion. The plants cannot consume bones and eventually
regurgitate them.
History: (Conan the Buccaneer/Savage Sword of
Conan I#42 - BTS) - At some point, the Amazons
of Gamburu planted Kulamtu trees in the middle of their town square (or
perhaps built the city around them?). Revering the Kulamtu like
deities, the Amazons would perform ritual sacrifice by feeding living
people to the plants. The plants became known as "the Devil-Trees of
Gamburu."
(Conan the Buccaneer/Savage Sword of Conan I#41) - As
slavers from Ghanata brought Conan, Chabela and others to Gamburu to be
sold in the marketplace, Conan noticed the Kulamtu trees in the middle
of what looked like an amphitheatre. Noticing piles of bones next to
the plants, Conan realized something terrible went on in the
amphitheatre.
(Conan the Buccaneer/Savage Sword of Conan I#42) -
Queen Nzinga grew tired of Conan defending Chabela in her court and
after the two slaves tried to escape from Gamburu, Nzinga sentenced
them to death by the Kulamtu. Binding them up, they were placed near
the Kulamtu in the amphitheatre and the Amazons sat back to watch and
bet on the results but as the Kulamtu's fronds began to enwrap them,
the acids weakened Conan's bonds enough that he could free his hands
then tear out of the Kulamtu's grasp. Unearthing an entire Kulamtu from
the ground, Conan used it as a battering ram to scatter the Amazons.
Because of their worship of the creatures, the Amazons fled in terror
as Conan and Chabela escaped.
(Savage Sword of Conan I#97) - While Conan was
attempting to return Princess Anya to her kingdom to collect on a
reward, he, Anya and Lesuthi Pa of the Wongolo rode near a grove of
Kulamtu trees near a bog in Darfar. Conan recognized the trees at once
and helped Anya dodge their fronds when they tried to snag her off her
steed. Knowing that he and Anya were being followed by Tomak Tharn and
his bandits, who also wanted Anya, Conan used pieces from her shawl to
create a false trail into the Kulamtu grove. When Tomak Tharn and his
men blundered into the grove they were consumed by the Kulamtu.
Comments: Created by L. Sprague De Camp and Lin Carter; adapted to Marvel Comics by Roy Thomas, John Buscema and Tony DeZuniga.
Although the concept of man-eating plants is derived
from the various carnivorous plants which consume insects, it became a
particularly widespread belief after an 1874 hoax article written by
Edmund Spencer for the New York World, in which he claimed he there was
a man-eating tree in Madagascar. Soon, man-eating plants became a
staple of pulp fiction and from there, comic books. Where would fiction
be today without them? Where would Plantman be? More importantly, where
would Cousin
Betsy be?!?
Savage Sword of Conan I#97 is set in Darfar but takes
pains to note the Amazons have journeyed from Gamburu to justify their
presence there. It's not impossible there could be Kulamtu in Darfar
too, but at that point, why not simply set the story in Gamburu instead
of Darfar?
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Kulamtu should not be confused with:
images: (without ads)
Savage Sword of Conan I#42, p19, pan2 (Kulamtu, main)
Savage Sword of Conan I#42, front cover (entrapping Conan, color image)
Appearances:
Savage Sword of Conan I#41 (June, 1979) - Roy Thomas (writer, editor),
John Buscema (pencils), Tony DeZuniga (inks)
Savage Sword of Conan I#42 (July, 1979) - Roy Thomas (writer, editor),
John Buscema (pencils), Tony DeZuniga (inks)
Savage Sword of Conan I#97 (February, 1984) - Michael Fleisher
(writer), Pablo Marcos (pencils, inks), Larry Hama (editor)
First posted: 05/21/2020
Last updated:
05/21/2020
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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