You may remember a few weeks back when TAFs introduced you to one of our favorite barbarian friends, Rick Henriques a.k.a. "Cromisgod", covered in Conan tattoos! TAFs has gained a close friendship with this barbarian and he has agreed to give us two Conan stories this week. Below is the first. Read on to hear of Rick's ultimate Conan shrine and his obsession - no, PASSION to collect in honor off his favorite film!

Rick Henriques:
Three years ago when shopping for a condo with my girlfriend, we were going over what we wanted to be included in our home. The first thing that came out of my mouth was, "Defiantly, a second bedroom"

With a sly and excited smile my girlfriend replied, "Why, are we looking to add an addition to the family soon?"

With a perplexed look I answered the obvious, "No, so I can have a "CONAN ROOM" of course!!!"

This did not go over well, but for her to avoid having Conan posters and items all over the house she complied. Thus the Conan Room was born. When I was young my father bought me my first Conan comic book. He told me this comic was different from my other superhero comics. This character didnšt need lasers, guns, or x-ray vision. This character just used the strength of his body and of his mind. Many months later my father told me that he had a surprise for me. He took me to this little theatre in Branford, Connecticut, I sat down with my kiddie popcorn and a soda, then it happened: I saw the fire engulfed sword come across the screen with the hypnotic sound of Basil Poledouris pounding from the speakers. Nothing I had seen before was more enchanting, nothing was more mesmerizing. I knew that I was watching something that would stay with me for the rest of my life and it has.


Since then I have amassed what I think may be one of the largest, most diverse Conan the Barbarian collections around. I started with one simple movie poster and then moved on to a set of lobby cards and then some trading cards. My resources were limited though. I could only find items at comic book shows and sci-fi conventions. I was diligent though, calling companies that worked on the film to see if they had any items left over that they wanted to get rid of. This is where I made my earliest find (and probably my greatest). I contacted VCE, who did the demon special effects in Conan, and they sold me some products pencil renderings of the demons. Month's later owner Peter Kuran contacted me that he had in fact found the entire 8-reel 35mm format production version of the film and was about to throw it away when he remembered my initial call. He offered to give it to me if I paid the shipping and handling. Of course I said "Yes" and my film arrived about 10 days later. I was more than surprised. I had received a pre production version with the special effect segments on a different reel with and without the effects added. It was truly a one of a kind. Not wanting to ruin the reels I haven't looked through the whole thing, but I believe there to be some of the deleted scenes still present in this version. This item is my baby.

I also have some items that were used in the film by a contact that actual worked for the location that housed them as a costume assistant. I own two helmets that were worn in the Orgy scene; a pendent worn by Thorgrim (played by Sven Ole Thornson) and the belt wore by Subotai (played by Gerry Lopez) in the battle of the mounds scene.

I also have over 20 different movie posters in many different languages that feature multiple different artists including the original Frazetta movie poster that was scraped because of questionable artwork content. They range in size from small to the rare subway poster that is 6 feet across. I have multiple theatre items such as full size and beverage counter size cardboard standees. They are too huge to display in the room that I have now. I have had the great pleasure of meeting a few star of the film such as Cassandra Gava (The Wolf Witch) and Ben Davidson (Rexor). Ben, in recent years has become a good friend of mine who I keep in contact with to give him updates of items that I have gotten with his image on it and what's going on with King Conan. Ben is a great guy who loves the fact that he was part of Conan. Ben even visited the birthplace of Conan creator, Robert E. Howard, in Texas and went to the museum in his honor. In meeting these stars I've been able to obtain many autographed items on posters and pictures. I have also acquired the auto that is now my most cherished: A signed King Conan: Crown of Iron script personalized to me from John Milius himself.


All in all I have about 150 different Conan the Barbarian items ranging from the above to figures, puzzles, Halloween costumes. Lobby cards, movie stills, movie programs and everything else you can think of. Some people my call it and obsession. I beg to differ. I call it a passion. A passion to keep close the things I hold dear. I think this passion is what my father wanted to give me by introducing me to this character and this movie. I know this because every time I show him something new that I add to my collection I see this gleam in his eye right before the smile comes upon his face. Then he always says the same thing:
"You didn't pay to much did you?"

And I always reply with the same answer with a coy little smile:
"Ahhhhhbut, this you can trust."

Rick Henriques

PS. Last week I had a crazy dream that I saw Arnold at a family picnic of mine (I know that's crazy unto itself) and I asked him about King Conan. He just laughed and lit a cigar with a blowtorch and said "Conan Comes Soon". An omen maybe, I don't know.

Ah yes, we are saving the best for last as Rick gives TAFs one more story to come Friday... but that was another story!

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TAFs & CromIsGod