One of the oft quoted criticisms of Conan the Barbarian is the less than politically correct way women are presented in his novels, movies, video games, and comic books. Conan is, after all, portrayed as the ultimate alpha male. His slick, long black hair. His ripped, veiny muscles. His brawny awesomeness. There’s nothing Conan can’t do with a sword and a loud enough guttural roar. But his domination of others isn’t isolated to the battlefield. His prowess for female conquests is legendary too.
Women in Conan stories are portrayed more often than not as the lusty sexpot who is a damsel in distress. Whether being kidnapped by snake-people, domineered by some king or sultan, or on the wrong side of an invading army, Conan stories frequently feature the Cimmerian leaping into action to save a female character from danger. It’s an active ingredient in 99.9% of all Conan stories. That might not be scientifically tested statement or proven fact, but it is surely accurate.
While this portrayal may be the case for a majority of Conan stories, not all women in the Conan universe are constantly damsels in distress. Yes, they are almost always drop dead gorgeous and “supple” (a favorite female descriptor used by Conan creator Robert E. Howard), but some of the women the future King of Aquilonia encounters in his many adventures are decidedly not helpless. Several of Conan’s female companions have stood out over time in the Conan universe as strong women capable of handling their own when the situation demands more than fainting and/or screaming. Here’s a list of seven women from Conan stories who held their own with the brawny Barbarian.