1971 painting originally used as cover for "Conan the Buccaneer"

The original oil painting had more or less the same battle scene, but the Conan figure depicted differently. Instead of the axe-swinging figure shown here, Conan instead is strangling his enemies. Frazetta revised the painting several different ways after publication of the paperback book it was intended for, and only photos show these permutations (see the Frank Frazetta Testament book, page 72, for two images of the earlier versions).

There is also a version of this painting with the face of actor Jack Palance painted inside Conan's helmet, apparently created by Frazetta onto a print of the painting, and used as a promotional material for an unrealized Hollywood production prior to the Arnold Shwarzenegger movie of 1982.

This painting sold in 2010 for $1.5 million USD - - the highest price yet for a single piece of Frazetta artwork. Previous record was the $1 million USD paid for "Berzerker" (i.e., "Conan the Conqueror") in 2009.