Movie Thulsa's Helmet And That Skull Illusion Trick

 

I remember back when I called Movie Thulsa as "Wrath-Amon" -- back when I saw Conan the Barbarian (1982) as a child. It was a shock for me (or not) to realize that the "Skeletor" I kept seeing on the cover of the Conan comics was actually closer to the LITERARY THULSA DOOM. I thought about talks about Movie Thulsa also being like "Skeletor" with the skull symbol. It was kind of a "HUH?!" for me. However, one could look at the helmet itself.

Thoth-Amon was obviously LOST in translation. The Movie Thulsa had this helmet trick. Sure, the close-up showed part of the late James Earl Jones' face. However, one should notice that while NOT A LITERAL SKULL -- Movie Thulsa's helmet as a skull-shaped facial opening with a noseguard. From close, the face doesn't look a skull but...

However, several screenshots of Movie Thulsa in battle uniform can create a skull-shaped illusion from afar. The skull-faced facial cavity had the shape of a skull and the nose guard may have created the illusion. It may NOT be a complete skull. However, it seems to be a compromise given the 1982 setting where artisty was anything but good. The plan to make Movie Thulsa have the same skullface might've resulted in something as cartoonish as Frank Langella's Skeletor in the Masters of the Universe Film.

The whole idea was to create a Thulsa Doom x Thoth Amon hybrid. Movie Thulsa carried Thoth-Amon's political machinations. The Movie Thulsa still carried the doom symbol. The helmet he wore signified that he was indeed the bringer of death. Sure, Movie Thulsa was a dirty coward but he had led people towards their doom. The shadowy skull emblem from afar was a terrifying warning that death was about to arrive. 

The symbolism was often a stern warning. Messing with Movie Thulsa could be your last day -- even if he was in reality a Dirty Coward!