The iconic and downright historic The Savage Sword of Conan is part of proper comics lore. The original series likely inspired generations of artists and writers to take up their pens and write some of the most gnarly pulp fiction in all media. Now, thanks to Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures, Savage Sword of Conan returns this year with an extra-sized black and white format.
The title will actually feature two stories, with Patch Zircher writing and drawing one such tale that’s focused on Solomon Kane. The character was hugely impactful, and Robert E. Howard even created him before Conan the Barbarian ever debuted.
To gain some better insights, I had the chance to ask Zircher a few questions before issue #1 lands on February 28 (and the second issue debuts on April 28). Read on to learn what we’re in store for with his Kane story, how working in black and white is different, and much more. Then, enjoy some exclusive covers from The Savage Sword of Conan #2.
Courtesy of Titan.
AIPT: You’re helping kick off The Savage Sword of Conan, a truly iconic series. Did you read it growing up? Any favorite memories from the magazine?
Patch Zircher: Oh, absolutely! I bought about 90 issues of Savage Sword over the years. Roy Thomas, John Buscema and Tony DeZuniga’s adaptation of “Beyond the Black River” always comes to mind. I loved John and Tony’s artistic collaboration. A very atmospheric, shadow-browed, and chiseled Conan.
AIPT: You’re tackling a Solomon Kane story. What sort of tale might we expect?
PZ: I wanted to begin early in Solomon Kane’s life so the first story, “Master of the Hunt,” takes place before he has adventures outside the British Isles. Wales specifically. It’s a story rich in Welsh mythology but also one that establishes the kind of hero Kane is.
AIPT: In your opinion, what makes Solomon Kane stand out?
PZ: Kane is the OG for a lot of characters that have followed in his wake, the hero cloaked in black who pits himself against supernatural forces, reflected in a variety of heroes from the Shadow to the Witcher. Yet it’s his faith that may separate Kane most from other heroes. Though he isn’t sermonic he does believe and he struggles to reconcile his belief with the evil he finds in the world.
Courtesy of Titan.
AIPT: How do you like working in black and white? Do you approach the page differently?
PZ: I love it. It is a different but satisfying experience. I’m ‘coloring’ with gray tones. It adds another dimension to the art and the storytelling.
AIPT: Would you agree Solomon Kane walked so that Conan could run (Since he came first!)?
PZ: Hmm. Not exactly. While everything an author writes affects their later work, Robert E. Howard’s Kull is closer to Conan than Kane is. Kane and Conan are fearless fighters but they have different codes of conduct. Solomon Kane is, I think, created out of Howard’s love of [Alexandre] Dumas’ Musketeers, especially Athos, and Sabatini’s Captain Blood and the Sea Hawk.
AIPT: What might surprise fans most about your story?
PZ: I hope, the humanity of it. In addition to the action and horror, Kane is a multi-dimensional character, confronted with temptation, doubt, and capable of caring.
AIPT: If your story was a song, what would it be and why?
PZ: Ha! I have two; Nick Cave’s “The Weeping Song,” with a community huddled in terror and Solomon Kane in search of a lost child at the behest of his mother, Cave’s somber “tavern” song fits like a glove.
The other, Johnny Cash’s “The Man in Black”, is appropriate to Kane’s persona in general. Cave and Cash, it’s no wonder I love this character.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.