"The Thing in the Crypt" by L. Sprague de Camp & Lin Carter (1967)

Originally appeared in Conan, 1967.

Plot: Conan has escaped slavery only to be hunted by wolves. Escaping into the crypt he lights a fire and sees an amazing sight--a throne with a mummy and a beautiful sword. He takes the sword then lets out a war whoop. The mummy animates and attacks him. he slices off the lich's hand then goes three rounds trying to destroy it. The severed hand grabs him by the ankle. Conan kicks the mummy into the fire and destroys it. Sword in hand he flees.

Monsters:

The Crypt Thing - The ancient warlord buried in a long forgotten crypt, gets up and attacks the boy who would steal his sword.

History: This story was most likely inspired by the skeleton fights in Ray Harryhausen movies (Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, Jason and the Argonauts). The opening of the sequence was used in the movie Conan the Barbarian (1982). When that skeleton didn't get up I knew I wasn't going to like this movie much. This story was adapted twice by the Conan the Barbarian comic (Issue #31 and #92). The first time the skeleton was a shadow and the second time it was done right.

Issue #31

Issue #92

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