Conan & Dragonero #5 Review

 

Conan & Dragonero #5 Review

Writers: Luca Enoch & Stefano Vietti

Artist & Colorist: Lorenzo Nuti

Letterers: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Editor: Chris Butera

Cover Artist: Stevan Subic

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $4.99/$14.99 Foil

Release Date: August 5, 2026

 

When a dragon swept into a temple in Tarantia, it escaped with gems that protected the Hyborian Age from ancient evil. Yet as Conan and his guards battled the dragon, it transported them from the crown jewel of Aquilonia to the world of Erondár. After teaming up with Ian Aranill and his sister Myrva, Conan tracked the dragon to its lair.

 

Even without Myrva’s airship, Conan and Ian engaged in a high-flying battle with the dragon. But as the two warriors stood poised for victory, the gems swept them up in a magical storm. How have the gems affected Conan and Ian? And can the men return them to Tarantia before Conan’s world descends into chaos? Let's grab our swords, shout "Hail Crom," leap into Conan & Dragonero #5, and see!

 

Story

Once again, a hero arises in unfamiliar surroundings. But this time, Ian senses that he has traveled to another world. Still, Conan is not far away. Having recovered first, the hale Cimmerian has built a fire within a stone ring. Ian may lack a connection to this world. Yet through his connection to the dragon in its dying moments, Ian believes he can find its body.

 

In Conan & Dragoner #5, extracting the jewels proves no easy task. When the warriors discover the body, scavengers dart in and around it. Each predator steals chunks of flesh before losing part of itself to its competitors. The two adventurers must battle the animals for access to the exposed skeleton. After realizing the gems have vanished, Conan and Ian must follow clues to discover where they have been taken.

 

Luca Enoch and Stefano Vietti’s story opens from Ian’s perspective before following both men on their quest. Their differing approaches to problem-solving reveal their temperaments and why Conan is more muscular than Ian. The story also displays Conan’s hatred of sorcery and why it is well-earned. Yet as the story nears its end, the men discover that invaders from other domains are not the only threats to the Hyborian Age in Conan & Dragonero #5.

 

Art

Yucca trees and boulders rise from the sand as Ian rises to his feet and trudges toward his nearby sword. As smoke from Conan’s firepit rises into the sky, a boulder evokes the dead dragon’s skull. Then the men set off through a desert filled with boulders, mounds, and depressions. The terrain's rise and fall suggest that giants once battled in this barren land.

 

Lorenzo Nuti shows bipedal dinosaurs competing for the skeleton’s dwindling meat. After Conan and Ian avoid the snapping maws and the slashing claws, they set off toward rock faces and monuments erected by people inspired by the land’s anthropomorphic features. When they reach a settlement surrounding a lake, the inhabitants’ attire and buildings imbue the land with a historic, real-world flavor. While purple and red often signal danger, this city offers a rich tapestry of color in Conan & Dragonero #5.

 

Bubbles and clouds reveal Ian’s thoughts in an adventure seemingly told from his perspective. Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith place black uppercase letters in balloons and boxes that grow bold with intonation. Words swell, and occasionally change color, as raised voices transform balloons into stars. Yet after growls, hissing, and roars fill the air, beating drums and the sounds of battle attend the search for the gems. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Ian Aranill battled his conscience before slaying the dragon. Still, he believed it would end all the killing the dragon's return to Erondár unleashed. But when the gems transport them to Conan's world, Ian realizes the slaughter has just begun. And the Cimmerian must confront memories that still haunt him in Conan & Dragonero #5.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

For how this series began, see Conan & Dragonero #1 Review. 

Emperor Aquaman #21 Preview

 

Lolanna may be Mera's mother. Yet Arthur's mother-in-law insists that her daughter is a traitor for loving the King of Atlantis. In her hatred of Arthur, the Crimson Queen deceived him, imprisoned him, and attempted to kill him. Then, she manipulated a god into attacking him. 

Everyone worries Arthur has taken on too much. Yet after competing in the Omega Tournament to free reality from Darkseid's domination, Arthur knows cannot back down. Darkseid will return to take back what was briefly his. And this time, the Omega Tournament will seem like child's play. How will the Crimson Queen attack Arthur next? And is Lolanna willing to go as far as Poseidon to usurp Arthur's power?

Here's all the info from DC Connect: 

Emperor Aquaman #21 Preview

Writer: Jeremy Adams

Artist & Cover Artist: John Timms

Variant Cover Artists: Mark Spears & Vincenzo Riccardi

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Price: $3.99 US/Variant $4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: September 9, 2026

 

 

The Tidal War Begins!

 

 

It’s an epic clash of good versus evil in the ultimate battle on the seven seas in “Tidal War: Part One”! When Ocean Master, Black Manta, the Crimson Queen, and more forged an alliance to destroy their shared archenemy, they had no idea that the destruction of Aquaman would also signal the vacated throne of the new Empire of the Blue! But now a massive tidal wave offers the opening salvo to a conflict that will span all the kingdoms of the heavens themselves. Do not miss the start of this new Aquaman adventure!

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

 

 

For what happened last time, see my Emperor Aquaman #20 Preview. 

 

 

 

For what happened last time, see my Emperor Aquaman #19 Review. 

 

 

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Emperor Aquaman #18.

 

 

 

 

 

For how Arthur Curry embarked on his new, interstellar mission, see my preview of Emperor Aquaman #15. 

 

Archie #1 Review

 

Archie #1 Review

Writer: Ben H Winters

Artist: Fábio Moon

Colorist: Jason Wordie

Letterer: Andworld Design

Pinup Illustrator: Nick Cagnetti

Activity Design: Scott Sugiuchi

Editors: Bess Pallares & Joelena Despard

Designers & Production: Rian Hughes, Carey Soucy & Angie Knowles

Cover Artists: Stuart Immonen, Fábio Moon, Karl Kerschl, Khary Randolph, Kano, Dan Parent, Elsa Charretier, Mahmud Asrar & Travis Charest

Also Available: Blank Sketch Cover

Publisher: Oni Press

Price: $4.99 US

Release Date: September 2, 2026

 

Twenty-four hours isn't long enough for Archie. So, after squeezing every moment of fun into each day, he struggles to get enough sleep at night. When Archie hits the Snooze button too many times, things get dicey. Archie can't afford to be late to school again.

 

What will happen when Archie races to Riverdale High School? And what other adventures will Archie have in his Oni Press debut? Let’s leap into Archie #1 and see!

 

Story

A short first story introduces the people in Archie's life and how much he packs into each day. The second story provides a greater challenge than getting to school on time. Archie's teacher fires her students' imaginations with a classic film. Then, she urges them to compete in the 6^th Annual Riverdale Film Festival. With such a short lead time, the students must think on their feet to bring their creations to life. But no one is more rushed than Archie, as he weighs his friends' needs against his own.

 

While Archie #1 keeps its focus on the titular hero, Jughead proves Archie's most stalwart companion. After "Rude Awakening" and "Yes, We Cannes," "Jughead's Journal Part 1" takes us inside Jughead's private life. His friends are busy with a school event. Jughead knows he should be with them. And yet, everyone needs alone time doing what makes them happy.

 

Ben H Winters’ three stories introduce readers to the vast tapestry of life in Riverdale. They also show how much his friends rely on Archie. Betty, Veronica, Dilton, and the others may not be geniuses. Yet they prove adaptable, innovative, and willing to try new things, even if they occasionally fear the inevitable changes that will test and alter their relationships in Archie #1.

 

Art

When Archie awakens, his packed room reveals his interests. Posters celebrate his entertainment faves. A pennant and varsity jackets highlight his athletic abilities. Framed vinyl albums, a guitar, and headphones emphasize his love of music. A glimpse of his family breakfasting in the kitchen reveals a happy family. Then, Archie shifts into overdrive.

 

Jason Wordie adorns Fábio Moon's action-packed pages with a loaded palette. People sweep Archie up in their plans. Vehicles race down streets and the Riverdale Speedway. Locations like Riverdale High School, Lodge Studios, and Pop's Chock’lit Shoppe celebrate Small-town Americana. An overview of Riverdale occupies the center of a double-page spread containing four frantic scenes. Later pages switch this arrangement, with Archie occupying the center of a page, framed by an overhead view of the town.

 

As Archie, Jughead, and their friends enjoy life in Riverdale, Andworld Design fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters. The words grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices. Sound effects accompany ringing bells, wailing alarms, and screeching tires. Yet hand-printed lowercase letters on pieces of perforated paper reveal Jughead's thoughts in Archie #1. Thanks to Oni Press and Superfan Promotions for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Sandwiched between two shorter tales, Archie and his friends use different methods to translate their visions into cinematic masterpieces in "Yes, We Cannes." The story reveals the strengths and pitfalls accompanying each approach. Yet it also shows how finished productions evolve from their initial screenplay.

 

After a trio of stories, Scott Sugiuchi challenges readers to a Jughead-themed brainteaser. Pinup artist Nick Cagnetti gives readers a final glimpse of the man Riverdale cannot live without. Bess Pallares' essay blends the history of Archie's comic adventures with her own relationship with the beloved franchise. Then, previews of two more franchise titles bring Archie #1 to a satisfying finish.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For more cover art see Archie #1 Cover Preview. 

Lenore: Hodge Podge Announcement

 

After Lenore died, she awakened on the embalming table. When her family rejected her, Lenore found new friends. She revived Ragamuffin, a vampire imprisoned in a doll. Lenore also befriended Pooty, a demon warrior. She lives in her family home in the town of Nevermore and doesn’t understand why people make a big deal about death. 

After her adventures through time and space, what will Lenore do next? And what dangers will she discover closer to home in this series of inter-related one-shots?

Here's all the info from Titan Comics: 

Lenore: Hodge Podge

Author/Artist: Roman Dirge

Publisher: Titan Comics 

SC, 112 pages, FC, $24.99

ISBN: 9781806182176

On sale September 8, 2026

 

Lenore’s back with the usual gang for misfits for four fantastically foolish, farcical felinologistic-themed fairy tales guaranteed to fracture your funny bone and leave you gasping for breath, weak with mirth.

 

The collection contains four individual stories, including:

 

CURSE OF THE BEEBEEYAGA 

One day Lenore and Ragamuffin find their chum Pooty at the bottom of a well. Turns out he’s been thrown down there by a real dick of a bumblebee. Things take a turn when the bee’s Gram Gram, the legendary BEEBEEYAGA, turns up, and then all hell breaks loose!

 

BLOOD AND MONEY

In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Winnie the Pooh (played by Lenore), ROOgamuffin, and Pootlet defend their 100 Acre Wood Dino-park fortress from exploding cars and an army of gasoline-guzzling road-warriors, just the way A.A. Milne intended.

 

MUFFIN ELSE MATTERS

Ragamuffin is forced to seek help from the Spam Witch when Lenore goes all funny like and starts acting like a cat. Turns out her cat battery is flat, and it needs recharging. Get ready for mayhem.

 

GHOST STORY

Lenore and crew decide to spend the night camping in the woods and sharing ghost stories under a star-encrusted night sky. Then the bickering starts, the accusations, and the insinuations.

 

Pre-order it now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Forbidden Planet for the UK and Europe.  

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

For more, see:

 

 

Lenore: Curse of the Beebeeyaga #1 Review

 

 

Lenore: Blood and Money #1 Review  

 

 

 

Lenore: Muffin Else Matters #1 Review 

 

 

 

Lenore: Ghost Story #1 Review 

 

The Deadman #4 Review

 

The Deadman #4 Review

Writer: W Maxwell Prince

Artist: Martín Morazzo

Colorist: Chris O’Halloran

Letterer: Good Old Neon

Editors: Chris Rosa & Paul Kaminski

Cover Artists: Martín Morazzo & Chris O’Halloran

Variant Cover Artists: Chris Brunner & Rico Renzi; Hayden Sherman; Chloe Brailsford

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99

Release Date: September 2, 2026

 

Boston Brand believed his job was important. He assisted the dying as they transitioned to the next stop on their eternal journey. He even granted them amnesty from eternal suffering if someone loved them. But on his recent visit to Hell, the Deadman realized he isn't the final arbiter of how a soul spends eternity. So now, Boston isn't conferring with the Rama Kushna. He's acting on his own initiative and thinking higher thoughts.

 

Will Yahweh be less parsimonious with the truth about the Syphons who devour souls like Mr M dines on the living? And what colors of crayons make God rejoice? Let’s leap into The Deadman #4 and see!

 

Story

The more he contemplates what he learned in Hell, the angrier Boston Brand gets. Rama Kushna led him to believe that what he did was important. But after discovering that Lucy could override his decisions, Boston’s role in eternity seems purposeless.

 

In The Deadman #4, Boston lives in Robertsville along with other spirits of the departed. While he has a body and freedom of movement, the others aren't so fortunate. Even though he's dead, Boston can still learn and grow like a living person. Most of the ghostly residents of Robertsville are stuck in their final moments of life, reliving the traumas that tormented them. Bobby died many years ago. Yet, he retains a boy’s interests, emotions, and attention span. He lacks a job to define him. So, after accompanying Boston to Hell, Bobby regards the forces disrupting the souls' cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth differently.

 

Boston may have an inflated opinion of his cosmic importance. He may not be as virtuous as he believes. Yet, as Boston undertakes a journey in W Maxwell Prince’s story, he gradually remembers that he is a servant. Boston can make requests. But just like Boston plays fast and loose with the rules, his bosses don’t have to play by his rules. And while he is accustomed to looking down on the boy because of his limited understanding, Bobby both helps and hinders Boston’s search for understanding in The Deadman #4.

 

Art

Martín Morazzo portrays Boston's heavenly journey via nine-panel grids. As Boston unleashes his anger, his features take a demonic turn. Bobby's youthful features also transform when he tries to tamp down Boston’s anger. Like most souls, flames rise from Bobby’s head. And as the ghosts fly above Robertsville, they resemble burning people. Cognizant of the bigger picture, Boston takes an escalator to Heaven. Yet like the souls circling above his town, the escalator doesn’t take a straight path through the sky.

 

Despite his usual calm, thoughtful demeanor, Boston’s red costume links with the anger that leaps to the forefront when faced with injustice. Chris O’Halloran uses blue to link Mr M with someone Boston meets in Heaven. Like the fiery yellow souls, Boston rides a yellow escalator. While the Syphons have violet skin, beige fills Heaven. Even more strangely, while faded green links Robertsville with Heaven's gatekeeper, green glows vibrantly amid Mr M’s beautiful cycle in The Deadman #4.

 

Good Old Neon fills white and colored boxes and balloons with black lowercase letters. The letters showcase a wide range of sizes and fonts. White uppercase letters in black balloons express anger, while colored letters in black balloons convey power. Balloons grow spiky when Mr M takes an important video call and when he listens to a radio report about cosmic events facing a superhero team. Yet while a chime offers hope, red uppercase letters in black boxes seem intent on robbing Boston of victory. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

While Boston Brand exists outside of time, Mr M fears it. The former Nazi has done his best to defy it. As he disrupts Rama Kushna’s Spiritual Math, Mr M rejoices in the beauty of his alternative cycle. While the Syphons from the Book Of Bedlam devour souls, Mr M hopes his New Math will give him a youthful glow for eternity in The Deadman #4.

 

Rating 9/10

 

To look inside see The Deadman #4 Preview. 

 

For earlier issues, see

 

 

 

 

The Deadman #3 Preview  

 

 

 

The Deadman #2 Review and 

 

 

The Deadman #1 Review  

 

100 Bullets: The US Of Anger #3 Preview

 

Henry and Loop have raised their sons as single parents. They stand by their beliefs and work hard to protect their communities. Yet each man looks at the other and sees an enemy. 

Sadly, Loop's dead son Tiz, labeled a drug dealer, has ignited a fire between them. As Lono sets out to swell the flames into a roaring blaze, what set the two men against each other? And can young Darius and kidnapped police officer George escape from Lono with their lives?

Here's all the info from DC Connect: 

100 Bullets: The US Of Anger #3 Preview

Writer: Brian Azzarello

Artist: Eduardo Risso

Cover Artist: Dave Johnson

Variant Cover Artist: Tula Lotay

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Series Length: 8 Issues

Price: $3.99 US/Variant $4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: September 2, 2026

 

 

Someone’s Always Listening…

 

 

The truth is dangerous—and the corporate media will never tell it. But here on our podcast, we’re the only ones fearless enough to say it plain…that there’s a cabal that runs this country, a criminal enterprise dating back to the founding fathers. Our futures are held by the Trust…and we’re ready to blow it all wide open if you like and subscribe. But first we just gotta answer this knock at the door…

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

For what happened last time, see 100 Bullets: The US of Anger #2 Review. 

For how the series began, see 100 Bullets: The US of Anger #1 Preview. 

Vampire Survivors #1 Preview

 

Cover A Jimmy Kucaj

When lightning electrifies the night, and the rain pours down in sheets, Gennaro and Antonio seek shelter in an isolated chapel. As they wait for their sister to join them, Antonio worries about Imelda. In frustration, he unleashes his anger on Gennaro. Their sister's disappearance must be his fault! 

Has Gennaro endangered his family by consorting with monsters? And what has happened to their sister?

Here's all the info from Titan Comics: 

Vampire Survivors #1 Preview

Writer: David Hazan

Artists: Jimmy Kucaj, Jão Canola

Publisher: Titan Comics

Issue Description: 32 Pages, Full Color

Price: $4.99 US

Release Date: September 9, 2026

 

 

Things that go bump in the night 

Fear only one thing: 

Survivors.

 

 

They grow in strength and conviction. And now, they use their expertise to vanquish those very creatures with whips, magic, knives, and garlic?!

 

When the Belpaese siblings are tasked with clearing out monsters, Imelda Belpaese stumbles upon The Trickster. An ancient evil so horrific it leaves only destruction in its wake. Now, it looks to destroy one thing: Imelda’s mind. The Trickster follows Imelda, wreaking havoc all around her but invisible to everyone else. And with the rivalrous Ladonna family applying pressure and the Belpaese siblings’ constant quarrels, the Trickster may just be able to destroy everything precious to Imelda.

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are more cover options:

 

Cover B David Hartman

 

Cover C Federico Sabbatini

 

Not Pictured:

Cover D Jimmy Kucaj Virgin Cardstock Variant 

Cover E David Hartman Foil Variant  

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this preview with us.