Classics Illustrated #156 "The Conquest of Mexico" by Cortez Soldier Bernal Diaz Del Castillo, Murder and Plunder in Christ's Name. Here is a fabulously hideous graphic novelization of the classic first-person account (by the conquistador Bernal Diaz Del Castillo) of the single-minded destruction of multiple highly developed indigenous Mesoamerica cultures in 16th century spearheaded by the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes, perpetrated in the name of his lord and savior, Jesus Christ, as well as by the wishes and orders of his master the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, of Spain. 

This is a very good issue printed in the 1960's in a 10" X 7" format with 48 pages of full color action filled graphics depicting much mayhem, gore, violence, mindless destruction, and arrogance. Excellent cover and binding. Some age fading on inside pages, but very good color retention. Illustrations feature several panes of the inner sanctums of Aztec temples including the sacrificial alters and braziers. 

Bernal Diaz was one of Cortes' most loyal and dependable foot soldiers and reportedly saw "every important battle in the conquest of Mexico," and this story is taken from his firsthand account written in 1560 entitled "The True History of the Conquest of Mexico." For sure, Cortes was very clever and was able to manipulate his way throughout Mesoamerica playing one tribe against the other (and often internally against themselves), shifting alliances, lying, exaggerating, and, above all, holding Jesus Christ as his guiding force. But, think how things may have been different if the hubris-demented dreams of world conquest (and the riches that come with this dream) had been tempered by a better understanding and display of human compassing and humility?

WHO'S SORRY NOW?