Weirdly, the dragon on this cover resembles the other Fafnir.

Specifically, from Walt Simonson's Thor, but I thought he looked like Themberchaud from the D&D movie; despite being a different color. "Featuring a team with so much plot armor, their fiercest foe spawns in with diabetes." Anyway, from 1985, Conan the Barbarian #166, "Blood of the Titan!" Written by by Michael Fleisher, pencils by John Buscema, inks by Geof Isherwood. Hmm, I would've been reading Conan pretty regularly by this point, but I don't recall this one, even though we've blogged several issues with Fafnir as his companion. Even with one arm, he's willing to throw down when some goons try to abduct a girl; but is steamed when Conan steps in to help. He's sore, and feels like Conan is showing him up; but honestly, the fact that you can run with Conan with just one arm is plenty impressive, guy. He's Conan, man. The girl wants to hideout at her uncle's place, and Conan plans to get her to safety before more guards show up; but Fafnir stubbornly refuses to run.

The girl, Giselle, explains the backstory on the ride: in that local province, the local baron could be challenged to a duel in a yearly tournament. This had been a fairly good system for a while, as barons came and went, until the current baron's champion Gargantax put him in power for the last ten years or so. There hadn't even been challengers the last few years, which caused some local grumbling. Giselle had been bought by the baron, since Gargantax had been smitten with her, but she had escaped; and the baron wanted her back, since Gargantax wouldn't fight without her. Meanwhile, some locals convince Fafnir, over drinks, he could totally take Gargantax! That'd show Conan and everybody.

The baron's guards were already at the uncle's, so Giselle and Conan are captured. Gargantax, who looks like he's maybe got a bit of gigantism, is thrilled to have her back, but can't understand why she doesn't love him. Maybe when he murders this year's challenger, that'll win her over. The locals that brought in Fafnir were working for the baron, who felt like they had to have some challenger just to avoid sour grapes, even if it was a one-armed mercenary. Conan is sentenced to be executed, but talks the guards into buying a last drink. Which he smashes, since it was crap...and he needed a sharp chunk of pottery to sever his ropes. He breaks free and fights his way to the arena, where Gargantax was giving Fafnir the business: Conan turns the crowd against the baron and Gargantax, to get the opportunity to fight him himself. A decision he might regret, as Gargantax does pretty well against Conan!

Giselle tries to save Conan the only way she can: by telling Gargantax she loves him. That distracts him enough for Conan to regain his feet, then cut him down to size. Gargantax dies, knowing Giselle didn't really love him. And Fafnir's still mad at Conan for stepping into his fight, again: maybe he would've died, but he would've died a man. He only had a couple more issues here, but would return much, much later as well! Oh, and no dragon this issue; but I think Conan covers around this time were more of crapshoot than usual.