"Mom, can we have some Conan?" "We have Conan at home."

Somehow, this feels like Marvel was trying to get away with something, but I'm not sure how, or why. From 1976, the Incredible Hulk #201, "The Sword and the Sorcerer!" Written by Len Wein, breakdowns by Sal Buscema, finishes by Joe Staton. This was six years before the unrelated and vastly entertaining, not very good, movie of the same name; but I don't know if there was a larger plan involved here, since Conan was very much a de facto Marvel character at this point. In the Mighty Marvel Checklist this issue, alongside the cover for this issue is Conan the Barbarian #65. (Which we saw some time back, featuring "The Secret of Skull River!" since they missed the deadline!) So why is the Hulk facing off against store-brand barbarian Kronak? Doc Samson had shrunk the Hulk last issue, to save Major Talbot's life; but old man wizard Shamu-Shan was also trying to summon a champion, to save his people from mean usurper king Kronak. The Hulk doesn't care, until a sad little girl laments the Hulk probably wasn't strong enough to beat Kronak anyway, and by Crom, ol' Jade-Jaws isn't going to let that stand!

The court wizard gases the Hulk, turning him back to Banner, so he decides to take the "pale pink changeling" to see the king for laughs. Even when he gets thrown in the arena to face Kronak in combat, Bruce tries to discourage everyone from making him mad, which doesn't go over especially well. He of course Hulks out, forcing Kronak to use "the sacred Ruby of Shadows" to summon a demon for Hulk to beat on. With Kronak on the ropes, the peasants rise up; and the Hulk throws him to the crowd, who tear him apart. The Hulk isn't sure what to do next, but then inexplicably continues shrinking...which would get him to his long-lost love Jarella, next month! I'm sure that'll end well.

Maybe Len Wein just didn't like Conan...It's a pretty accurate, and well researched, pastiche though. Because the world is what it is now, I'm looking at this maybe more suspiciously than it deserves; like it was a test case to try and knockoff Conan, as opposed to just an off-the-cuff plot to fill an issue.