In 1979, Warren Publishing — the legendary house behind Eerie, Creepy, and Vampirella — released a fantasy anthology magazine called Ring of the Warlords, bringing together six sword-and-sorcery tales illustrated by some of the era’s greatest fantasy artists.
In this edition of Rediscovered Realms, we take a visual journey through the magazine’s pages, featuring art from Esteban Maroto, Wally Wood, Gonzalo Mayo, and more — all framed beneath a striking cover by Sanjulian.
As a bonus, I’ve included the entire story “The Curse”, written and illustrated by the legendary Wally Wood, along with a tour of the wonderfully nostalgic advertisements that showcase some of the era’s most popular fantasy, horror and sci-fi collectibles.
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Enter the Ring
Published in January 1979 by Warren Publishing, Warren Presents: Ring of the Warlords was part of the company’s line of black-and-white fantasy and horror magazines that flourished during the 1970s. Unlike traditional comic books, these magazines were printed in a larger magazine format, allowing artists greater freedom with darker themes, elaborate artwork, and longer stories.
The issue gathers six fantasy stories from creators associated with the Warren magazines and the European fantasy art scene, including Esteban Maroto, Gonzalo Mayo, and Wally Wood. The striking painted cover was created by the Spanish fantasy master Sanjulian, whose dramatic covers became iconic during the magazine’s run.
Artist Spotlight: Sanjulian
Manuel Pérez Clemente — better known as Sanjulian — is one of the great masters of fantasy magazine cover art. Born in Barcelona in 1941, he became internationally known during the 1970s for his striking painted covers for Warren Publishing magazines such as Creepy, Eerie, and Vampirella.
Sanjulian’s style blends classical painting techniques with dramatic fantasy imagery. His figures often appear sculptural and powerful, illuminated by bold lighting and rich colors that leap from the page.
The cover of Ring of the Warlords captures this perfectly — a haunting gathering of monsters and dark figures emerging from the gloom, promising readers that the pages within hold strange worlds and dangerous adventures.
Did You Know? — Warren Publishing
Warren Publishing helped change the comic industry in the 1960s and 70s.
Because their publications were printed as magazines rather than comic books, they were not bound by the Comics Code Authority — the censorship system that restricted traditional comics for decades.
This allowed Warren magazines like:
Creepy
Eerie
Vampirella
. . . to explore darker stories, mature themes, and more experimental artwork.
The large magazine format also gave artists more space to create detailed black-and-white illustrations, which became one of the defining visual styles of fantasy and horror comics of the era.
Many legendary artists and writers passed through Warren’s pages, making the magazines an important bridge between pulp fantasy, European comics, and the emerging fantasy boom of the 1970s.
Legends of Steel & Sorcery
If you’re ready, let’s take a tour of some of the stories and panels within!
Artist Spotlight: Esteban Maroto
Spanish artist Esteban Maroto became one of the defining illustrators of sword-and-sorcery comics during the 1970s. His work appeared frequently in Warren magazines, where his elaborate style and imaginative character designs stood out immediately.
Maroto’s art often features flowing hair, intricate armor, exotic landscapes, and beautifully composed figures — blending classical fantasy imagery with a uniquely European sense of elegance and atmosphere.
His contributions to Warren’s magazines helped define the visual language of fantasy comics during the era.
Artist Spotlight: Gonzalo Mayo
Gonzalo Mayo was another Spanish artist who became closely associated with Warren Publishing’s magazines during the 1970s. Like many artists working with Warren, Mayo brought a strong European comics influence that added sophistication and variety to the magazine’s stories.
His illustrations combine expressive character work with clean, dramatic compositions — perfect for the dark fantasy tales that filled Warren’s pages.
Though sometimes less widely known than some of his contemporaries, Mayo’s work helped shape the rich visual identity of Warren’s fantasy anthologies.
Artist Spotlight: Wally Wood
Wally Wood (1927–1981) is widely regarded as one of the most influential comic artists of the 20th century. His career spanned science fiction, superheroes, satire, and fantasy, with memorable work appearing in EC Comics, MAD Magazine, Daredevil, and numerous independent publications.
Wood was famous for his meticulous line work and dramatic use of black and white contrast — a style perfectly suited to the large-format black-and-white magazines produced by Warren Publishing.
In Ring of the Warlords, Wood both writes and illustrates “The Curse,” a haunting sword-and-sorcery tale that showcases his ability to combine eerie atmosphere with powerful storytelling.
The Curse — Wally Wood
Among the treasures hidden within Ring of the Warlords is this eerie sword-and-sorcery tale by comic legend Wally Wood, who both wrote and illustrated the story.
He wove a tale where dark magic and grim destiny lurk just beyond the torchlight.
When I first read this not too long ago, it felt like it would have fit perfectly in an episode from The Creepshow or Tales from the Crypt.
Enter the story below — if you dare.
Artifacts from the Age of Fantasy
The advertisements in magazines like Ring of the Warlords are little time capsules — revealing the games, books, posters, and collectibles that fueled the imagination of fantasy fans in the late 1970s.
It may be a fever dream, but I think I had those sheets as a kid!
The sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica, was in 1978-1979, so it makes sense the Galactic Wars Comix was created to capitalize on that publicity!
Memory unlocked! I remember making vehicles from the Star Wars Punch-Out Book (and I still have my beaten-up copy of the Star Wars Pop-Up book!)
“Superman The Movie” was a huge hit released in 1978, which explains all these merchandising ads.
Magazines like Ring of the Warlords remind us that the golden age of fantasy didn’t live only in novels and role-playing games — it thrived in the pages of bold magazines filled with daring artists and strange worlds.
These stories carried the spirit of sword and sorcery forward through the late 1970s, bridging the worlds of pulp fantasy, comics, and the growing imagination of gamers and readers alike.
Until our next rediscovery, keep your blade sharp, your curiosity sharper, and your imagination ready for whatever strange realms lie just beyond the next page.
Safe travels, Bold Adventurer.
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💬 Tavern Talk
❓Have you ever encountered Ring of the Warlords before — or is this your first discovery?
❓Which artist’s style in this issue captured your imagination the most — Maroto, Wood, Mayo, or Sanjulian?
❓Does flipping through magazines like this feel like discovering a lost artifact from the golden age of fantasy — or do some of the era’s more “spicy” sword-and-sorcery tropes make you want to keep the cover shut?
❓Which of the vintage ads in this magazine would have tempted you the most back in 1979?
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I always love looking at the ads for these magazines!