Jim Zub’s Conan Journey

 

Jim Zub (second from right)

Jim Zub’s Conan Journey

 

At this year's Titan Comics' Conan panel at San Diego Comic-Con, I asked Jim Zub how he had grown as a writer since he wrote Conan for Marvel Comics. Jim explained that his journey alongside the Cimmerian actually began at Dark Horse Comics, when he co-wrote the Conan/Red Sonja miniseries with Gail Simone. Jim figured it might be his only shot at writing Conan, so he made the most of the opportunity.

 

 

 

 

Yet in life, one thing often leads to another. When Marvel Comics was looking for guest writers for its Savage Sword of Conan series, they picked Jim to write the three-issue story arc "Conan The Gambler." With industry greats like Jason Aaron and the legendary Roy Thomas swelling Marvel's ranks, Jim grasped the unexpected opportunity, grateful for a second chance to chronicle Conan’s adventures.

 

 

 

But when Jason Aaron decided to cease his Hyborian Age labors, Marvel needed another scribe to take his place. Based on his story in Savage Sword of Conan #7, 8, and 9, Marvel picked Jim to script Conan's monthly journeys. Jim Zub wrote 13 more issues of Conan The Barbarian and the Conan: Serpent War miniseries.

 

 

 

After retracing his journey with Conan for me, Jim Zub explained that, after Marvel dropped Conan, Titan Comics gave him time to immerse himself in Robert E Howard's world. While Jim had always loved the original stories, the lead-up to Titan’s Conan The Barbarian #1 allowed him to delve deeper into the Howard mythos. After writing so many stories for Titan, Jim Zub better recognizes when he is channeling Howard's narrative voice in a comic script, and what to do if he isn't. 

 

Titan's Conan The Barbarian #33 Cover A

 

 

Robert E Howard may have stopped writing Conan before he died. Still, Jim Zub wants to adhere as closely as possible to the master. And by becoming conversant with so many of Howard’s characters, Jim Zub can expand his Conan universe, as he is doing with boxer and sailor Steve Costigan in his upcoming Conan: Scourge of the Serpent event.

 

 

 

Thanks to Titan Comics, Heroic Signatures, Jim Zub, and San Diego Comic-Con for sharing this story with us.

 

For Jim Zub's latest story, see Conan The Barbarian #33 Review. 

Conan & Dragonero #4 Cover Preview

 

Cover A: Patch Zircher

When a dragon brought Conan to the world of Erondár, the Cimmerian couldn’t protect his soldiers from the horde of savage Algents. While Ian Aranill asserted his ability to slay Conan’s dragon, it attacked the border outpost and killed his fellow soldiers. Now, Conan has joined Ian and his sister Myrva to pursue the dragon. But a pack of Wyverns has downed their skyship before they even reached the dragon. Can Conan and Ian track down the dragon? And can they reclaim the sacred gems that protect Conan’s world from an ancient demon?  

Here's all the info from Titan Comics:

 

Conan And Dragonero #4 (Of 7)

Writers: Luca Enoch & Stefano Vietti

Artist: Lorenzo Nuti

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $4.99 US

Issue Description: 32 Pages, Full Color

Release Date: August 5, 2026

 

Pulled to the mysterious land of Erondár by dark forces, Conan comes face to face with the famed dragon slayer, Dragonero, and the two warriors must set aside suspicion to stand back-to-back against a supernatural force poised to doom both their worlds.

 

 

Here are more cover options:

 

 

 

Cover B: Lorenzo Nuti

 

 

Cover C: Patch Zircher - Virgin Cardstock Variant ($6.99)

Cover D: Patch Zircher - Foil Variant ($14.99)

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this cover preview with us.

 

For what happened last time, see my cover preview of Conan & Dragonero #3. 

 

For what happened before that, see my review of Conan & Dragonero #2. 

 

For how this series started, see my review of Conan & Dragonero #1. 

 

 

Conan The Barbarian #33 Review

 

Cover by Max Von Fafner

Conan The Barbarian #33 Review

Writer: Jim Zub

Artist: Fernando Dagnino

Colorist: Diego Rodriguez

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Cover Artists: Roberto De La Torre, Fernando Dagnino, Max Von Fafner, Don Aguillo, Rebeca Puebla & Dan Panosian

Editor: Chris Butera

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: July 29, 2026

 

The Zingaran government wants to send a message: its ports are open, and its seas are safe for vessels to sail upon. As the Navy cracks down on piracy, one ship defies their reach. Commanded by Captain Quinn Corvaxis, the Briney Wren strikes terror upon the seas. But what makes this crew of pirates such an unstoppable force? And what dangers will arise to threaten Captain Quinn, Valeria, and Conan the Cimmerian’s supremacy on the high seas? Let’s shout, “Hail Crom,” leap into Conan The Barbarian #33, and see!

 

Story

Captain Quinn may order his sailors into battle against the Zingaran seadogs. But Conan is the first to board the military vessel. The Cimmerian orders the Red Brotherhood to seize the helm. While his zeal inspires most of his comrades, two other seasoned sailors observe the Cimmerian's bloodlust. Morley quips with Valeria as they cut a swathe across the deck. And they force the Zingaran Captain to surrender, while Conan would prefer to continue the fighting.

 

In Conan The Barbarian #33, the Cimmerian is more prone to melancholia than mirth. Morley senses a history between Conan and Valeria. But Conan says nothing, and Valeria insists they were just fellow thieves. Like Captain Quinn, Conan seems content to observe his fellow sailors following the battle. But he snaps into action when another danger arises.

 

As Jim Zub’s story follows a day in the life of Conan and Valeria, Morley is an interloper. He seems intent on sweeping Valeria off her feet. While Valeria keeps him at arm’s length, the two warriors are well-matched. Conan takes little interest in the duo's flirting. More attuned to nature's rhythms than his civilized companions, the Cimmerian remains alert for danger.

 

But while the smirking swordsman and the warrior woman spar, an unseen enemy begins a game of their own. Like Morley and Valeria, their adversary plays by their own rules. And while Morley and Valeria cut short Conan’s battle aboard the Zingaran naval vessel, the Cimmerian may get more than his fill of death in Conan the Barbarian #33.

 

Art

While Bêlit disdained restrictive clothing, Captain Quinn has a dress code. And instead of the sword he found at the Battle of Venarium, Conan wields a sabre with a crossguard. As he swings over to the Zingaran vessel in his long-sleeve shirt, pants, and boots, Valeria and the others follow wearing similar attire. A red sash at their waist is their calling card, along with the crimson they spill with their swords. After a splash page and a double-page spread, Fernando Dagnino uses rectangular panels to portray calm moments, while diagonal borders enhance the fraught battles.

 

Diego Rodriguez lavishes a loaded palette on the swashbuckling action in Conan The Barbarian #33. Red and yellow enhance the daytime battle as the pirates battle purple-clad Zingarans beneath purple sails. But the blue night turns green when Conan’s heightened senses detect danger. As sailors scramble for safety, green and white electrify the night. Yet Captain Quinn stands on the top deck, wearing his black hat and long jacket, while his long gray beard and a dagger adorning his wide leather belt mark him as an experienced captain.

 

Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith fill white dialogue balloons with black uppercase text as Conan strikes terror into his enemies. Jim Zub's narration in yellow boxes guides readers through this maritime chapter of the Cimmerian’s life. The words grow bold for intonation and never shrink. Yet they swell, and balloons grow spikes, when sailors’ voices rise. And dialogue changes color when staring death in the face. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Conan and Valeria have fought together before. Then they slipped through shadows as thieves, and nighttime was their friend. Now they rob and steal in daylight. But when darkness falls, the pirates brave unknown dangers in Conan The Barbarian #33.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of Conan The Barbarian #33. 

 

For how this series began, see my review of Conan The Barbarian TP Vol 1.

 

For Conan's first adventure after the Battle of Venarium, see my review of Conan The Barbarian Vol 4: Frozen Faith.

 

Conan The Barbarian #33 Preview

 

Dan Panosian Red SDCC Exclusive Cover

The Zingaran Navy wants to send a message: its ports are open, and its seas are safe for vessels to sail upon. As the Navy cracks down on piracy, one ship defies their reach. Commanded by Captain Quinn Corvaxis, the Red Brotherhood strikes terror upon the seas. But what makes the Red Brotherhood such an unstoppable force? And what dangers will arise to threaten Captain Quinn, Valeria, and Conan's supremacy on the high seas?

Here's all the info from Titan Comics: 

Conan The Barbarian #33 Preview

Writer: Jim Zub

Artist: Fernando Dagnino

Colorist: Diego Rodriguez

Letterers: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Editor: Chris Butera 

Publisher: Titan Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages, Full Color

Price: $4.99 US

Release Date: July 29, 2026

 

 

The Brand-New Story Arc: 

"Cursed Shores Beyond" Begins Here

 

 

Conan and Valeria are pirates of the Red Brotherhood, living a life of lawless adventure on the Western Sea. But occult forces from the Cimmerian’s past have him in their sights once more. And they will not rest until the barbarian’s body and soul are torn asunder!

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Here are more cover options:

 

 

 

Cover A: Roberto De La Torre

 

 

Cover B: Fernando Dagnino

 

 

Cover C: Max Von Fafner

 

 

Cover D: Don Aguillo

Cover E: Rebeca Puebla

Also Available:

Cover F: Roberto De La Torre Foil Variant ($14.99)

Cover G: Roberto De La Torre Virgin Cardstock Variant ($6.99)

 

 

Thanks to Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures for sharing this preview with us. 

 

For how the previous story arc started, see my review of Conan The Barbarian #29. 

 

For the most recent trade paperback, see my review of Conan The Barbarian Vol 7: The Conquering Crown. 

Conan & Dragonero #3 Cover Preview

 

COVER A: MAX VON FAFNER

Ian Aranill thought Conan little more than a half-naked barbarian in need of rescue. Conan assumed Ian was a courtier in need of protection. But after the dragon that wreaked havoc in Tarantia transported Conan and his doomed soldiers to this world with two moons, Conan needs to find it. Only the jewels the dragon stole can prevent a great evil from laying waste to the Hyborian world. But will the beautiful Myrva distract Conan? And can their skyship survive the danger winging their way?

Here's all the info from Titan Comics:

Conan & Dragonero #3 

Writer: Luca Enoch & Stefano Vietti

Artist: Lorenzo Nutti

Publisher: Titan Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Series Length: 7 Issues

Price: $4.99

Release Date: July 8, 2026  

 

 

Pulled to the mysterious land of Erondár by dark forces, Conan comes face to face with the famed dragon slayer, Dragonero, and the two warriors must set aside suspicion to stand back-to-back against a supernatural force poised to doom both their worlds. 

 

 

Here's another cover option:

 

 

 

COVER B: LORENZO NUTI VARIANT

 

 

Also Available:

COVER C: MAX VON FAFNER FOIL VARIANT ($14.99) 

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Conan & Dragonero #2.

 

For how this series started, see my review of Conan & Dragonero #1. 

 

 

 

Conan The Barbarian & Dragonero #2 Review

 

Conan The Barbarian & Dragonero #2 Review

Writers: Luca Enoch & Stefano Vietti

Artist & Colorist: Lorenzo Nuti

Letterers: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Editor: Chris Butera

Cover Artists: Roberto De La Torre, Lorenzo Nuti

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $4.99/$14.99 Foil

Release Date: June 10, 2026

 

When Conan landed in a plain of ash, one glance at the sky told him that he had traveled to another world. One of his soldiers spotted a distant wall aglow with lights. But then the white-skinned savages arrived. The silent throng forced Conan and his troops back. And although they extracted a heavy toll, one by one, Conan’s soldiers fell.

 

Then a rain of arrows, unlike anything Conan had ever seen, ended the battle in an instant. Who are the troops who rushed out of the wall and imprisoned Conan? And what happened to the dragon that the Cimmerian and his men were chasing? Let's grab our swords, shout "Hail Crom," leap into Conan The Barbarian & Dragonero #2, and see!

 

Story

After chaining Conan in a cell, Commander Deymar regards the Cimmerian and wonders what trouble the stranger has brought to his border outpost. His sorcerer placed a spell on the Cimmerian, but it has done little to subdue him. At least the amulet he placed around the stranger's neck allows the men to understand each other. But Conan has lost the men under his command. He’s angry at being imprisoned. And he insists that they let him pursue the dragon.

 

Then, in Conan The Barbarian & Dragonero #2, another stranger enters his cell. Ian Aranill tells Conan that he will dispatch the dragon. His legendary dragon slayer feats have earned him the title Dragonero. Ian also mentions that his flying ship will enable him to pursue the creature that sent many soldiers to their deaths. Then he turns his back on Conan and walks away.

 

In Luca Enoch & Stefano Vietti’s story, Conan and Dragonero don't know each other. Nor do they have any reason to trust each other. Conan has brought danger to Ian's land. Yet this "Dragonero" seems as full of himself as most "civilized" warriors. Still, Conan knows how dangerous the dragon can be. And he refuses to let anything get in the way of fulfilling his responsibility.

 

Although he inhabits another world, Conan’s predicament evokes Robert E Howard’s classic tale, Queen of the Black Coast. And although he meets a beautiful female warrior, she seems unlikely to rival his beloved Bêlit. Still, Conan demonstrates his worth, and both heroes recognize they stand a better chance together than apart in Conan The Barbarian & Dragonero #2.

 

Art

A scar runs down his face as Ian Aranill smiles. Yet his eyes narrow as Conan yanks at his chains. As the stranger yells at him, determination overtakes Ian’s features as he turns and leaves. Ian climbs atop the wide stone wall, where soldiers prepare the armaments that let them slay the Algent horde. More soldiers pull on ropes, restraining the vessel beneath an enormous balloon.

 

As Lorenzo Nuti enlivens this gray world with bright colors, Myrva urges Ian to hurry aboard in Conan The Barbarian & Dragonero #2. Then the blonde replaces her goggles, as she grips the wooden steering wheel beneath a purple-pink sky. In the cells below, Conan strains at the gray chains tethering him to the gray stone wall. Soldiers stand by the bars to his cell, clad in silver helmets. Silver chainmail coifs protect their necks. The red heraldic flags draped on the walls link with each soldier’s Coat of Plates, and the blood flying through the air.  

 

Richard Starkings and Tyler fill white balloons with uppercase black dialogue. Letters grow bold for intonation and occasionally turn red. Raised voices swell words and turn balloons into stars. As air currents scream past the airship, the clang of chains, the shouts of the guards, and the sounds of fighting and death echo through the jail. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Conan didn’t ask to leave Tarantia. But when a dragon appeared, he fought to defend the Aquilonian capital. Now he's in a land where people regard him as a savage. And as Ian and Myrva yearn to pursue the dragon endangering their land, their unwanted visitor insists his world also hangs in the balance in Conan The Barbarian & Dragonero #2.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

 

For how this series started, see my review of Conan The Barbarian & Dragonero #1. 

Conan The Barbarian & Dragonero #2 Cover Preview

 

COVER A: FERNANDO DAGNINO

When Conan landed in a plain of ash, one glance at the sky told him that he had traveled to another world. One of his soldiers spotted a distant wall aglow with lights. But then the white-skinned savages arrived. The silent throng forced Conan and his troops back. And although they extracted a heavy toll, one by one, Conan's soldiers fell. 

Then a rain of arrows, unlike anything Conan had ever seen, ended the battle in an instant. Who are the troops who rushed out of the wall and imprisoned Conan? And what happened to the dragon that the Cimmerian and his men were chasing? 

Here's all the info from Titan Comics:

 

Conan The Barbarian & Dragonero #2 
Writers: Luca Enoch & Stefano Vietti
Artist & Colorist: Lorenzo Nuti
Letterers: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith
Editor: Chris Butera
Cover Artists: Fernando Dagnino & Lorenzo Nuti
Publisher: Titan Comics
Price: $4.99/$14.99 Foil
Release Date: June 10, 2026 

 

Pulled to the mysterious land of Erondár by dark forces, Conan comes face to face with the famed dragon slayer, Dragonero, and the two warriors must set aside suspicion to stand back-to-back against a supernatural force poised to doom both their worlds. 

 

Here are more cover options:

 

 

 

COVER B: LORENZO NUTI VARIANT

 

COVER C: FERNANDO DAGNINO FOIL VARIANT ($14.99)

COVER D: FERNANDO DAGNINO VIRGIN VARIANT

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this cover preview with us.

 

For how this series started, see my review of Conan The Barbarian & Dragonero #1.