This subject was the first from the Conan stories that Sanjulian chose to portray, and in his mind it was important to set a bold and dramatic standard for the depth and energy of the entire project from the outset. This scene depicts Conan's iconic battle with Thak, the Apeman. Sanjulian wanted to bring his own vision of Thak to life, giving him more vulnerability than many artists have attributed to this character in the past -- not merely an ape, but rather as something much more human-like. Here, man and beast are clearly locked in the throes of an intense struggle to the death!
