Fans of Jim Zub’s previous Conan the Barbarian work will be happy to note that he hasn’t missed a beat between publishers, bringing his love for Robert E. Howard’s mythology and his ear for Conan’s particular brand of dialogue to this new series from Titan Comics. However, the move to Titan also means that this is 100% a book for more mature audiences.
The Marvel comics didn’t shy away from bloodshed, but the gore here is a bit more intense, and we even see a bit of skin here and there. That last element felt a little gratuitous in this first issue, but I have a feeling the creative team wanted to come out of the gate with an issue that feels like a statement of intent. This is definitely a different beast when compared to Conan stories from recent years, and it’s obvious from the jump.
So far, the plot feels a bit familiar, particularly if you’ve followed Conan’s exploits over the years, but that’s not at all a knock on this new issue. If you’re going to relaunch a beloved property at a new publisher, it makes a good bit of sense to go for a bit of a “greatest hits” vibe. Undead armies and cursed mercenaries seem to be a dime a dozen in the Hyborian Age, but I am still curious to see how the story proceeds from here. The final pages of this issue make a point of making this a much more personal story for Conan than we’ve seen in some time, which is a fantastic hook to bring folks back next month.
The true standout in this opening salvo is the art, with pencils by Roberto De La Torre and colors by José Villarrubia. Much like Zub, neither of these artists are strangers to Conan the Barbarian, and their work is truly stunning. De La Torre’s illustrations recall John Buscema’s classic work on the character, feeling so perfectly pulpy and gritty. Conan may be a conqueror, but his life at this point in time isn’t exactly glamorous. Roberto De La Torre captures the ugliness of a life filled with constant war, but also finds an opportunity to show us how much Conan enjoys his lifestyle. The titular barbarian typically has a roguish smirk on his face, whether he’s hacking up jealous mercenaries or having a pleasant drink at the tavern.
Villarubia’s dusky colors give this story an ancient feel, almost like you’re looking at a faded tome of literature, or indeed an older collection of Conan’s comic book adventures. The colorist also doesn’t shy away from the red stuff, giving us some truly sickening reds for the battle scenes, as well as interesting hues for magical and macabre lighting alike. The result is a book that feels both modern and retro all at once, inviting readers along for another of Conan’s many tales.
Conan is in an interesting spot here. As we see in a flashback sequence in this issue, his spirit will never be satisfied by a single victory. He hates to follow orders, yet doesn’t see himself as a leader of men. He’s far from the king he will eventually become, but somewhat detached from the mercurial young man who first set off into the world, looking for revenge. Zub and co. launch this series with Conan at a crossroads, and I’m extremely curious to see how he develops from this point, free from the specter of crossover events and brand synergy. In many ways, this feels like the Conan story this creative team has been wanting to tell, in the way they’ve always wished to tell it.
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