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
