Grognak the Barbarian is an obvious reference to "The Savage Sword of Conan the Barbarian", and the cover of the in-game Grognak comic "In the Lair of the Virgin Eater" resembles the cover of the Conan comic named "Lair of the Ice Worm".

Also on the in-game comic cover, Grognak looks remarkably similar to the Barbarian class image from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Notably the axe-heads, folds in the clothing, hand positions, and most of the body pose are almost exactly the same.