Conan The Barbarian #34 Review

 

Conan The Barbarian #34 Review

Writer: Jim Zub

Artist: Fernando Dagnino

Colorist: Diego Rodriguez

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Cover Artists: Esad Ribic, Jesus Merino, Nicola Scott & Juan Alberto Hernandez

Editor: Chris Butera

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: August 26, 2026

 

The Zingaran Navy threatened the Red Brotherhood with extinction. Instead, it gave them sport and booty. But a battle amid a raging storm took everything Conan and Valeria had and more. Despite surviving the wind-tossed seas, Conan has more on his mind than the Zingarans' new War on Piracy. During the night, the Cimmerian faced a phantom with red eyes who slew Captain Quinn's First Mate and knocked him unconscious.

 

As they drop anchor at an unknown island, will the crew find the resources they need to repair their damaged vessel? And what forces molded skeletons and stone into a haunting monument? Let’s shout, “Hail Crom,” leap into Conan The Barbarian #34, and see!

 

Story

With Conan and Valeria's help, Captain Quinn steered the Briney Wren through the raging storm. But as the ship lists and salt water invades its battered timbers, the sailors realize it has seen its last voyage. Captain Quinn is no stranger to surviving disaster. So, he organizes the crew to salvage what they can, lower the boats, and make for land.  

 

The obelisk along the shore casts a dire warning. Yet each sailor realizes that the loot they took from other vessels cannot help them on this island. Closer to nature than his city-bred companions, Conan wants to scout the land for food, water, and enemies. But after losing his First Mate and the Briney Wren, Captain Quinn wants his remaining crew to stick together. So, although he realizes it exposes everyone to more danger, the Cimmerian accompanies the party as they survey the island together in Conan The Barbarian #34.

 

Before the cataclysm that ended Kull’s Thurian Age, this island might have been charted, and its dangers known. But as Captain Quinn and his company survey this forbidding island, they witness wonders unknown in an age when knowledge is hoarded or lost instead of shared. While the fiercest fighters like Conan and Valeria seem best suited for the dangers they face, a sailor who makes light of everything demonstrates surprising survival skills in Conan The Barbarian #34.

 

Art

As their ship sinks, its masts bow toward the monolith ashore. The cargo Captain Quinn ordered his crew to batten down now floats near the wrecked vessel. As they bid farewell to the Briney Wren, Conan stands taller than all his companions save Captain Quinn. Then, as they climb the grassy slope toward ferns and trees, Conan takes the lead, while a wary Valeria follows, yet also lingers.

 

Fernando Dagnino combines eye-catching set pieces with inset panels to heighten tension and convey action. Unlike Quinn's extravagant appearance and Morley's posturing, Conan never demands the spotlight. Yet when danger threatens, Captain Quinn lurks in the background while Conan raises a hand to block the blinding light. Diego Rodriguez adorns Conan The Barbarian #34 with a loaded palette that accentuates the mystery and majesty of Jim Zub’s story. Yet when yellow and orange emphasize a character’s features, Conan remembers the wraith with glowing red eyes that he battled amid the storm.

 

Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith fill white dialogue balloons with black uppercase text as the survivors seek food, water, and shelter after losing their plunder. The words grow bold for intonation, broken balloon borders suggest lowered voices, and letters swell as people die. Yellow narrative boxes accompany readers on this trek through an unknown island. A red balloon border accompanies a shouted warning. Yet, red dialogue spells doom for the crew of the Briney Wren. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

When she roused him on the storm-battered deck of the Briney Wren, Valeria intended to drag Conan into the hold. But when he insisted on standing by Captain Quinn, she followed his lead, trusting Conan's instincts more than her own. Now, as they explore a forgotten island filled with danger at every turn, Valeria learns why so few of the Cimmerian's fellow thieves, mercenaries, and freebooters survive to tell tales of their adventures in Conan The Barbarian #34.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For more see ConanThe Barbarian #34 Cover Preview. 

 

For what happened last time, see Conan The Barbarian #33 Review. 

 

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 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 Vol 7: The Conquering Crown Review

 

Conan The Barbarian Vol 7: The Conquering Crown Review

Writer: Jim Zub

Artists: Fernando Dagnino & Alex Horley

Colorist: Diego Rodriguez & Alex Horley

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Cover Artists: Alex Horley & Bart Sears

Editor: Chris Butera

Publisher: Titan Comics

Trade Paperback Price: $17.99

Release Date: May 20, 2026

 

He treks through pastoral lands and rough, barren country. The nomad shields his features from the sun, the darkness, and the fury of the elements. When he reaches the gates of Tarantia, the capital city of Aquilonia, the guards refuse to admit the ramshackle stranger. So he waits, quietly sitting on the ground, his form and features covered by his cloak and hood. Will the King agree to see him? And how will this hermit test King Conan's mettle? Let’s raise our swords, shout “Hail Crom,” leap into Conan The Barbarian Vol 7: The Conquering Crown, and see!

 

The Nomad: Story

Years have passed since Conan took the crown of Aquilonia. Yet as he sits on the throne, memories of King Numedides linger. The people around Conan wonder why he has agreed to meet this poor traveler. And when he agrees to the visitor's request, they question his worthiness to wear the crown.

 

As days pass, the people in Conan's court ponder why he has taken a stranger into their midst. They test him and express their concerns. Yet Conan stands by his decision to admit the man. And he wonders why they seem so frightened by a man who eats and drinks little, makes no demands, and keeps to himself.

 

In Jim Zub’s story, a threat to Conan’s future will emerge. Yet what troubles Conan more is the life he has settled into. He begins to remember why he passed up offers to rule kingdoms earlier in his life. As a Cimmerian, Conan worries about tangible dangers. Yet in this first story in Conan The Barbarian Vol 7: The Conquering Crown, people fret about what might happen, and fear losing the ease and comfort King Conan has brought them.

 

The Nomad: Art

Clad in a cloak and aided by a staff, the wanderer walks through complex landscapes. Carved worship rocks emerge from grassy hillsides as snowy mountains rise in the distance. When he abandons a forest, the wanderer forges a stream in the rain. Lightning pierces the darkness, and rain falls as a stone arch beckons him on. As sunset paints the sky with fire, a river slithers toward a city in a valley below him. Yet after the wanderer reaches the golden walls surrounding the city, axe-carrying soldiers order him to halt.

 

As Alex Horley's lushly painted scenes welcome readers into Conan The Barbarian Vol 7: The Conquering Crown, the guards' helmets evoke birds. A beak shelters their haughty countenances, while the crest rising above their helmets suggests a game piece. Unlike his guards, King Conan doesn't welcome his visitor with a smile. Gold medallions of a lion adorn his chest and throne. The fur warming his shoulders blends with the gray streaks in his hair. Yet the gray-haired stranger’s alabaster skin evokes a warrior-monarch from another world.

 

The Conquering Crown: Story

As Jim Zub steps back in time, King Numedides has withdrawn from Aquilonian society. He admits few to his castle, and fewer still to his throne room. King Numedides even forbids some visitors to gaze upon his countenance. When word reaches King Ferdrugo de Ramiro III that King Numedides has refused to admit Count Trocero of Poitain to his presence, he summons his general. As his court senses weakness in Aquilonia, they expect King Ferdrugo to order an attack on Aquilonia. But instead of attacking King Numedides, the King of Zingara decides to chip away at his rival’s strength.

 

In The Conquering Crown, soldiers ambush Count Trocero and his party as they return home. After they repel the attackers, they realize they cannot return home. The Zingaran army masses outside Culario, attacking the region’s capital city. In response to his request for aid, King Numedides sends the Westermarck Wolves, currently lounging in the palace with time on their hands. Trocero wishes King Numedides had sent his Black Dragon Knights or his royal army instead of a band of mercenaries. Still, the Count soon realizes that he has a resourceful military leader in Conan.

 

While this second story occurs before The Nomad, The Conquering Crown provides a bridge between Conan the Barbarian and Conan the King. After enjoying years of quests, battles, rescues, and thefts, Conan has settled into a life that offers security. So, he grows troubled when he sees the people of Aquilonia going hungry. Conan has seen the effect wars have on people going about their daily lives. As Conan befriends Count Trocero, he uses the respect and power he earns to help those around him in Conan The Barbarian Vol 7: The Conquering Crown.

 

The Conquering Crown: Art

A soldier stands atop a city wall near a fluttering banner. King Fedrugo de Ramiro III wears a more ornate crown and armor than King Conan. Bracelets and rings festoon his hands. Gray also adorns his dark hair as he contemplates foreign affairs. As Fernando Dagnino portrays a clash of rulers, Count Trocero rides home at the head of a company. Diego Rodriguez colors his cloak purple while red cloaks and crests adorn Trocero’s shoulders. As the riders pass between red-brown hoodoos, arrows fill the sky. Then they spy columns of black smoke rising from a city on the plains.

 

As a messenger approaches his throne, candles fill King Numedides' throne room. While his general stands nearby, adorned in a purple robe, the messenger bows amid hundreds of candles dripping wax onto the steps and dais. Despite the illumination cast from the floor and candlestands, the King cloaks his features in shadow. Yet nearby, a burly warrior with long gray hair and an eyepatch pushes open a wooden door and surveys his mercenaries sprawled across the floor. Chickens climb over the sleepers, seeking crumbs amid the soldiers' clothing and the empty jugs and plates. Conan reclines atop bags stuffed with straw on a wooden riser, while serving wenches nestle at his sides.

 

Lettering

Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith fill white and colored dialogue balloons with uppercase black letters. Words in colored boxes also introduce characters and relate narration. Or black words hover in the air, as Conan forges a friendship with Count Trocero. Words grow bold for intonation and enlarge for raised voices. Spiky balloons intensify the conflict, as King Conan battles foes in a mystic realm, and the younger Cimmerian demonstrates his worthiness to wear the crown of Aquilonia. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Age and experience change everything. Once, Conan left his native Cimmeria to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandaled feet. But after years of seeing the costs of war, his compassion for others overrides his desires for riches and conquest. Then, Conan becomes a man dedicated to peace and fights to build a world in which the virtuous prosper in Conan The Barbarian Vol 7: The Conquering Crown.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

For a look inside, see my preview of Conan The Barbarian Vol 7: The Conquering Crown. 

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Conan The Barbarian Vol 6: A Nest of Serpents. 

Conan The Barbarian #29 Review

 

Writer: Jim Zub

Artist: Doug Braithwaite

Colorist: Diego Rodriguez

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Cover Artists: Roberto De La Torre, Doug Braithwaite, Toby Wilsmer, Martin Simmonds & Jesus Merino

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: February 25, 2026

 

Thulsa Doom has a mysterious relationship with time. Imbued with dark magic, his spirit roams time and space, seeking new places and eras to conquer. Alongside the Pict scout Brissa, Conan battled the sorcerer’s Army of the Lost across Aquilonia and Cimmeria. While working as a thief in Shadizar, Thulsa Doom’s dark magic hurled Conan back to the Thurian Age. There, alongside King Kull and Brissa's ancestor Brule, Conan confronted the sorcerer again. How will the leader of the Cult of the Black Stone plague Conan next? Let’s shout, “Hail Crom,” leap into Conan The Barbarian #29, and see!

 

Story

Like Thulsa Doom, Jim Zub’s vision spans lands and eras. As he begins Ghosts And Echoes: Part One, Zub transports us back in time before Conan forged his wandering spirit at the Battle of Venarium. Perhaps even before he battled his father over Crom’s existence. And instead of revisiting Cimmeria, Zub introduces us to a tribe wandering the Hyrkanian steppes.

 

In Conan The Barbarian #29, a young boy trudges toward adulthood. His family doesn't expect him to survive the journey. As the tribal leader, his father watches the boy's brothers and sisters ridicule him. When his youngest son's screams rend the stillness each night, he wonders why the gods have laden him with such a weakling.

 

Eventually, the chief realizes he cannot allow the situation to continue. His youngest son cannot hunt and feed the tribe. Nor can the boy rend flesh from bone to butcher the beasts they hunt. So, the father gives his youngest son a final test. If the boy can accomplish that, he will allow him to remain with them. Otherwise, when the tribe next moves camp, they will leave him behind.

 

Jim Zub's coming-of-age story shows how mastering a skill can empower us. On the surface, the hunter's son bears no comparison to the son of a Cimmerian blacksmith. Yet just as Conan grew up wondering where he belonged, this Hyrkanian “ugly duckling” also ponders the riddle of steel. Unlike Conan, the boy never doubts his connection to the gods. A certainty that he belongs to something greater than himself, even if it isn’t the people he was born among, also links him with a warrior he seems destined to confront in Conan The Barbarian #29.

 

Art

In the chief’s round house, the women of the tribe surround his wife. When she cradles her bloody infant, the other women cluster and look on from afar. As he grows, the boy resembles the old and infirm members of their tribe that the nomads abandon to the elements. He trudges along, walking with a stoop as he gathers kindling for the tribe. At night, his mother kneels beside him, tending to her youngest son as he writhes beneath furs on a mat apart from the rest of her family.

 

Diego Rodriguez adorns Doug Braithwaite's portrayal of the scorned boy with a gentle, nuanced palette. A sepia portrait hides half his face, hinting at the shadow hanging over the boy's future in Conan The Barbarian #29. Electrifying blues, reds, and yellows fill the boy's mind as he sleeps. When he awakens from his visions, the boy trudges outside on a page bathed in blue to behold the heavens. Yet when his father gives him a final chance to belong, the boy’s face distorts amid streaks of white, light gray, and dark gray.

 

Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith fill white dialogue balloons with black uppercase text as the boy interacts with his family. As Jim Zub's story spans the years, his narration appears in colored boxes or hovers like the boy's destiny in panel backgrounds. The words grow bold for intonation and never shrink. Yet they swell and change color within a spiky balloon, when his father realizes how his family’s scorn has helped his son overcome the weaknesses impeding his growth. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

As Conan travels the Hyborian Age, he seeks adventure and discovery. Theft and death may be his trade. Yet Conan is rarely cruel and never seeks power for its own sake. While Jim Zub contrasts Conan's youth with that of a Hyrkanian child, he hints at why the Cimmerian distrusts sorcery and so often battles people who crave power in Conan The Barbarian #29.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Conan The Barbarian #29. 

Conan the Barbarian Vol 6: A Nest of Serpents Review

Writer: Jim Zub

Artist: Fernando Dagnino

Colorist: Diego Rodriguez

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Editor: Chris Butera

Cover Artists: Dan Panosian & Greg Staples

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $17.99

Release Date: January 13, 2026

 

 

After Bêlit's death and his battle with a shapeshifter, Conan travels back in time. He fights alongside King Kull and the noble Pict Brule. Conan prevents Thulsa Doom from rising to power. But in the process, the Atlantean sword he found at Venarium becomes a painful reminder of Bêlit and the ancient sorcerer. So, when he returns to Shadizar, Conan discards it. Where will Conan's travels take him next? Let's grab our swords and battle axes, shout “By Crom,” venture into Conan the Barbarian Vol 6: A Nest of Serpents, and find out!

 

Story

Conan first tries joining a group of mercenaries. The soldiers hail from lands he knows well. Yet he feels like a stranger among them. When he meets the Bamula tribe, they honor him as Amra, the name Conan took when sailing on the Tigress. This pleasant association with Bêlit and his short but intense pirate career gives Conan something he lost. Conan helps the Bamulas combat their enemies. Unlike his time among the Aesir in Conan the Barbarian Vol 4: Frozen Faith, no one objects when he leads them to victory. So, the Cimmerian makes his home among them.

 

In Conan the Barbarian Vol 6: A Nest of Serpents, Jim Zub reminds us that we often find ourselves in unexpected places. Family may be the people who raise us. But we also find friendship, belonging, and love in unexpected places as we grow and change. Jim Zub also honors Robert E Howard’s stories by rejoining Conan’s life after “The Vale of Lost Women.” As in “Sacrifice in the Sand,” Jim’s story in The Savage Sword of Conan #1, Conan rescues a maiden from death. But this time, it is the beautiful Livia whom Conan intends to return to her people.

 

Unfortunately for him, fate has a different plan in store for the Cimmerian. He and the Bamula discover a town where people seem incurably happy. Yet their graciousness and kindness feel too good to be true. In Conan the Barbarian Vol 6: A Nest of Serpents, the Cimmerian must once again prove his mettle while protecting the people he has taken under his care. Yet as he faces foes old and new, he must confront his fear of losing his freedom by accepting a life of contentment in a gilded cage.

 

Art

Fernando Dagnino opens with a splash page that evokes Roy Thomas' early Conan stories for Marvel. After glimpses of Conan's recent history, Dagnino shows the Cimmerian as long-time readers remember him: clasping a maiden in his arms as he rides. Then Dagnino shows Conan and the Bamula entering a town with a tower rising from the epicenter. The locals greet their visitors by casting flowers into the air and draping leis around their necks. They lead Conan and the Bamulas to a tavern, where they fill their guests' tankards and bring steaming platters to their table.

 

Diego Rodriguez plays with light, contrasting nights around a glowing orange campfire with fights amid green and blue. Conan and the Bamulas rescue Livia beneath the full moon in a blue sky. The sun's yellow rays burst behind Conan in the orange and blue morning sky. Yet the sky fills with yellow and brown as the travelers reach their evening stop. As Dagnino switches camera angles, many locals watch from the shadows, cloaked in shadows.

 

Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith conjure uppercase lettering into white dialogue balloons and yellow narrative boxes in Conan the Barbarian Vol 6: A Nest of Serpents. Words grow bold for intonation, occasionally enlarge, and rarely shrink. Shouts turn red and threaten to burst balloons as Conan insists he determines his future, while green letters warn of imminent danger. Thanks to Titan for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

While protecting his friends, Conan discovers a terrible injustice afflicting towns and villages. The Cimmerian may distrust magic. But to extricate himself from a future that offers nothing but conformity and death, Conan must team up with a magical being and invade the stronghold of a mighty sorcerer in Conan the Barbarian Vol 6: A Nest of Serpents.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Conan the Barbarian Vol 6: A Nest of Serpents.

 

Conan The Barbarian #23 Review

 

Writer: Jim Zub

Artist: Fernando Dagnino

Colorist: Diego Rodriguez

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Editor: Chris Butera

Cover Artists: Dan Panosian, Greg Staples, Joel Gomez & Sweeney Boo

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: August 13, 2025

 

When Conan rescued Livia from Bajujh’s Balakah tribe, he led the Bamulas away in triumph. But then the grinning people of Daynt captured them with kindness. The sorceress Athyr-Bast owns Conan and Livia. And as Conan excels in the arena, he begins to wonder: What is best in life? Will Conan and Livia live out their days in Athyr-Bast’s household? Or will she use them to undermine Thoth-Amon’s dominance in Kheshatta? Let's grab our swords and battle axes, shout “By Crom,” charge into Conan The Barbarian #23, and find out!

 

Story

After making Conan the centerpiece of her elegant soirée, Athyr-Bast said, "Do you not wish to warm yourself by my fire?" Conan found it as hard to resist Athyr-Bast’s willpower as he did Thulsa Doom's mesmerizing stare. Then Zula climbed in through the window and knocked the sorceress out.

 

Conan has waited patiently for this moment. It has cost him the lives of his friends. Now, he has a chance to rescue Livia and escape Kheshatta. Instead, Zula says, “You owe me.” So, Conan repays Zula for saving him from Set’s corrupting influence.

 

Zula guards the Black Kingdoms against Set’s attacks. For the last month, he has been in Kheshatta, listening for clues to the snake cult’s plans. Perhaps, like Athyr-Bast, he sat in the grandstands near the sorcerers, as Conan battled other gladiators in The Pit. Zula knows Thoth-Amon has arranged a meeting with Athyr-Bast. The shapeshifter intends to take the place of the sorceress. But in Conan The Barbarian #23, Zula fears entering Thoth-Amon's presence alone.

 

In Jim Zub’s story, Zula and Conan face danger as they stride through the dark streets of Kheshatta. Like Maya in Space 1999, Zula can only maintain Athyr-Bast's form for a limited time. As Set's supreme servant, Thoth-Amon knows appearances can be deceiving. And then, there is the problem of Athyr-Bast. When she awakens, she probably won’t tell Conan, “We have warmth. That’s so hard to find in this world.”

 

Art

As Zula stands in Athyr-Bast’s stone bedroom, he gazes out the arched window. The sculpted towers rising above the tenements find echoes in the enchantress’s carved bedposts and attire. Zula demonstrates that gender does not define a shapeshifter’s identity in Conan The Barbarian #23. Conan adopts similar adornments to those of his owner. The artistic helmet and gorget seem better suited to princely Elric of Melniboné than the Cimmerian.

 

As Fernando Dagnino shows the disparity between rich and poor, Diego Rodriguez paints the night purple on Conan and Zula’s nocturnal adventure. Green links the sorcerers with their god, while gold links Conan with "Athyr-Bast." The sorcerers wield white and yellow energy that intensifies with anger. Red connects Zula’s blood magic with a case of mistaken identity. But when it creeps into the skies, Conan and Zula stand to lose more than a glass slipper.

 

Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith conjure uppercase lettering into white dialogue balloons and yellow narrative boxes in Conan The Barbarian #23. Words grow bold for intonation, occasionally enlarge, and never shrink as Conan and Zula brave the narrow streets of those who live far below their sorcerous rulers. Words swell and change color, while balloons sprout spikes as sorcerers rage like angry gods. Thanks to Titan for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

As Zula and Conan pass the poor standing before their homes or sitting in the alleys, they risk discovery on several fronts. Their undercover mission will cost them. And the Cimmerian will learn more about his shapeshifting ally in Conan The Barbarian #23.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Conan The Barbarian #23. 

Conan The Barbarian #22 Review

 

Writer: Jim Zub

Artist: Fernando Dagnino

Colorist: Diego Rodriguez

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Editor: Chris Butera

Cover Artists: Dan Panosian, Riccardo Federici, Enid Balam, Valerio Giangiordano & Jason Shawn Alexander

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 9, 2025

 

The Bamula tribe respects Amra's conquests alongside Bêlit. So when Conan meets them, they accept him as their own. Conan agrees to help them defeat their enemies.

 

Kushites captured Livia's caravan. Before they could barter a ransom from the magician-rulers of Kheshatta, Bajujh’s Balakah tribe killed the Kushites. Conan and the Bamula rescued Livia when they attacked the Balakah camp. But when they travel north to return Livia to her people, Conan and the Bamula fall prey to the people of Daynt. Will the grinning townsfolk kill the Bamula and Livia with kindness? Or can Conan help them escape? Let's grab our swords and battle axes, shout “By Crom,” venture into Conan The Barbarian #22, and find out!

 

Story

In Jim Zub’s story, the townspeople threw Conan, the Bamulas, and Livia in a pit with other prisoners. Their warders kept the prisoners drugged. Conan ate and drank as little as possible to avoid his companions' lethargy. When she arrives, the enchantress Athyr-Bast brings the prisoners to Kheshatta. As in John Milius' movie, Conan enters an arena. This time, he faces Krum-Va the Carver.

 

Conan The Barbarian #22 revolves around Conan’s trials as a gladiator and Athyr-Bast’s hunger for prestige among the magicians of Kheshatta. Like Conan’s master in the 1982 movie, Athyr-Bast realizes Conan is her ticket to success. So, she treats him like a star gladiator. But Conan is still a slave. The Cimmerian fears that he will accept this status and live for the acclaim of the populace.

 

Like the Aquilonian village of Hauler's Roam, Daynt sits along the border between two kingdoms. Athyr-Bast may not transform people into a zombie army. But she can perpetuate a great evil while attracting little notice from outsiders. So, nobody in Kheshatta questions how the enchantress acquires Conan, Livia, and the Bamulas in Conan The Barbarian #22.

 

The Stygian king invited Livia to live in a mansion or palace in Kheshatta. Then, the Balakah killed Theteles. Instead of enjoying the prestige that came from being the sister of a powerful sorcerer, Livia is a slave. And owners can use, punish, sell, or kill slaves at their pleasure.

 

Art

Krum-Va evokes the Nephilim, who walked the Earth before a flood wiped away the spawn of angels and Humans. The champion towers over Conan in his full-face helmet, clutching his rake-like swords. Conan glances at his knife like a dispirited Crocodile Dundee. Athyr-Bast dominates a page of fight scenes, while Fernando Dagnino shows a glimpse of Thulsa Doom among his council. Krum-Va tosses Conan with such force that he breaks apart a stone wall. Then he grabs Conan and treats him like a puny Cimmerian.

 

Diego Rodriguez imbues the jeering crowd with green highlights. Like the snake men Solomon Kane battles in Africa, the spectators gaze down at the golden bowl. Conan and Krum-Va's skin tones harmonize with the surrounding beige, tan, and brown as they return to the dust from which they came. But when Conan gains an advantage, Thulsa Doom and Athyr-Bast lean forward in adjacent panels.

 

Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith conjure uppercase lettering into white dialogue balloons and yellow narrative boxes in Conan The Barbarian #22. Words grow bold for intonation, occasionally enlarge, and never shrink as Conan braves the silhouettes and shadows of his new home. Shouts turn red and threaten to burst balloons as the crowd realizes Amra’s sense of worth, and the announcers decide that he matters. Thanks to Titan for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

When the beautiful enchantress of Kheshatta makes Conan her champion, the Cimmerian helps her rise among the social elite. But while the crowd greets him each day with howls of lust and fury, Conan cannot protect his friends in Conan The Barbarian #22.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Conan The Barbarian #22. 

Conan The Barbarian #21 Review

 

Writer: Jim Zub

Artist: Fernando Dagnino

Colorist: Diego Rodriguez

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Editor: Chris Butera

Cover Artists: Dan Panosian, Maria Wolf, Brandon Kenney, Mindy Lee, and J Gonzo

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: June 11, 2025

 

After Bêlit’s death, Conan transforms her ship into a funeral pyre. Instead of lighting her body on a hill and watching it burn, he sails Bêlit’s Tigress into her beloved sea. Then Conan wanders through the jungle. A local tribe reminds him of Bêlit’s slain crew. But sensing evil in him, they repulse him. So, Conan continues his lonely sojourn until Zula tests him to see if Set has corrupted his soul.

 

After the death of his lover and his battle with a shapeshifter, Conan travels back in time. He fights alongside King Kull and the noble Pict Brule. Conan prevents Thulsa Doom from rising to power. But in the process, Conan loses his taste for the Atlantean sword. The sword he found at Venarium is a painful reminder of Bêlit and the ancient sorcerer. So, when he returns to Shadizar, Conan discards it. Where will Conan's travels take him next? Let's grab our swords and battle axes, shout “By Crom,” venture into Conan The Barbarian #21, and find out!

 

Story

Conan first tries joining a group of mercenaries. The soldiers hail from lands he knows well. Yet he feels like a stranger among them. When he meets the Bamula tribe, they honor him as Amra, the name Conan took when sailing on the Tigress. This pleasant association with Bêlit and his short but intense pirate career gives Conan something he lost. Conan helps the Bamulas combat their enemies. Unlike his time among the Aesir in Conan The Barbarian #16, no one objects when he leads them to victory. So, the Cimmerian makes his home among them.

 

In Conan The Barbarian #21, Jim Zub reminds us that we often find ourselves in unexpected places. Family may be the people who raise us. But we also find friendship, belonging, and love in unexpected places as we grow and change. Jim Zub also honors Robert E Howard’s stories by rejoining Conan’s life after “The Vale of Lost Women.” As in “Sacrifice in the Sand,” Jim’s story in The Savage Sword of Conan #1, Conan rescues a maiden from death. But this time, it is the beautiful Livia who Conan intends to return to her people.

 

Unfortunately for him, fate has a different plan in store for the Cimmerian. He and the Bamula discover a town where people seem incurably happy. Yet their graciousness and kindness feel too good to be true. So in Conan The Barbarian #21, the Cimmerian must once again prove his mettle while protecting the people he has taken under his care.

 

Art

Fernando Dagnino opens with a splash page that evokes Roy Thomas' early Conan stories for Marvel. After glimpses of Conan's recent history, Dagnino shows the Cimmerian as long-time readers remember him: clasping a maiden in his arms as he rides. Then Dagnino shows Conan and the Bamula entering a town with a tower rising from the epicenter. The locals greet their visitors by casting flowers into the air and draping leis around their necks. Then, they lead Conan and the Bamulas to a tavern, where they fill their guests' tankards and bring steaming platters to their table.

 

Diego Rodriguez plays with light, contrasting nights around a glowing orange campfire with fights amid green and blue. Conan and the Bamulas rescue Livia beneath the full moon in a blue sky. The sun's yellow rays burst behind Conan in the orange and blue morning sky. Yet the sky fills with yellow and brown as the travelers reach their evening stop. As Dagnino switches camera angles, many locals watch from the shadows, cloaked in shadows.

 

Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith conjure uppercase lettering into white dialogue balloons and yellow narrative boxes in Conan The Barbarian #21. Words grow bold for intonation, occasionally enlarge, and rarely shrink. Shouts turn red and threaten to burst balloons as Conan insists he determines his future, while green letters warn of imminent danger. Thanks to Titan for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

While protecting new friends, Conan discovers a terrible injustice afflicting towns and villages. Conan The Barbarian #21 reminds us of the familiar patterns we unintendedly follow in our lives. Extra features include an essay from Robert E Howard historian Jeffrey Shanks and an interview with artist Fernando Dagnino.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Conan The Barbarian #21. 

Conan The Barbarian #20 Review

 

Writer: Jim Zub

Artist: Doug Braithwaite

Colorist: Diego Rodriguez

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Editor: Chris Butera

Cover Artists: Roberto de la Torre, Mike Rooth, Ben Templesmith & Doug Braithwaite

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 16, 2025

 

Bêlit is dead. Conan set her and her slain crew aflame when he steered the Tigriss out to sea. Yet her memory burns in him as he travels through the islands of the Zarkheba River. Seared with her loss, Conan befalls dangers he would usually skirt. The natives of the region speak the tongue of his former crew, yet they eschew his company. And someone pursues him through the Black Kingdoms. 

 

 

 

Will Conan fall before his hunter? And who is this man who can also assume the guise of a black panther? Let's grab our swords and battle axes, shout “By Crom,” venture into Conan The Barbarian #20, and find out!

 

 

 

Story

Years ago, a Snake Priest stabbed Conan in Kyros. If the Cimmerian survived, the Stygian said Conan would serve his serpent god. Now, Zula insists that Conan belongs to Set. And Zula has pledged his life to exterminating every worshipper of the snake god.

 

 

 

In Conan The Barbarian #20, Conan insists he belongs to Crom. His reluctance to fight a noble opponent recalls his refusal to shoot the bear with his bow in Asgard. But just as Conan felt the Fangs of the Serpent burn him, he wondered if the weapon left something behind. Perhaps he is corrupted, as Zula insists.

 

 

 

Conan sought the truth of his existence on his sojourn into Asgard. Conan agrees to face another test in Jim Zub's latest comic ode. Conan already carries the pain of Bêlit’s loss. The last thing he needs is something that will separate him from others. More importantly, he bears his lover's memories and spirit. Bêlit’s crew are dead. Who else will remember her if he dies? And how can Conan honor Bêlit's indomitable spirit if he allows the Stygian magic inside him to fester? 

 

 

 

Art

Doug Braithwaite packs Conan The Barbarian #20 with furious action. Like fast cuts in a movie, the panels lead the eye from one camera view to another. Night fights frame a trek through the jungle. Fired with purpose, Conan no longer falls for dangers alert Cimmerian children would avoid. As the Black Stone once dominated his steps, another monument beckons.

 

 

 

Diego Rodriguez wields a series of limited color palettes in fight sequences. The alternating color schemes enhance Zula’s resolve to exterminate Set's servants and Conan's desire to prove his allegiance to Crom. The scene when Conan glimpses his destination shines with vibrant coloring amid two inset panels. A glimpse of the animal life near the water evokes the danger and grandeur of the region. 

 

 

 

Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith conjure uppercase lettering into white dialogue balloons and yellow narrative boxes in Conan The Barbarian #20. The words grow bold for intonation, occasionally enlarge, and never shrink. Shouts turn red and threaten to burst balloons as Conan insists he determines his future. Thanks to Titan for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Zula stands as a mirror before Conan. The guardian of the grasslands shows Conan that he must undergo a trial to purge his soul of dark magic. Conan The Barbarian #20 reminds us to periodically reassess our lives to ensure we follow our paths and not allow others to dictate our actions.

 

Rating 9.4/10