Savage Sword of Conan (2024) #4 REVIEW – Conan: Battle of the Black Stone
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The idea of these short reviews is to give you a quick overview of what this issue is about (or remind you if you’ve forgotten!).
I try to give as much information as possible without spoiling any plots or twists, though of course there are likely to be some mini-spoilers… so read on dog-brother!
Savage Sword of Conan (2024) #4 REVIEW – Conan: Birthright in black
Writer: Jim Zub
Artist: Fernando Dagnino
Letterers: Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Tyler Smith
Publisher: Titan Comics
Published: September 2024
Intro
Here we are with The Savage Sword of Conan #4: Battle of the Black Stone. From the outset, we are told that this issue focuses squarely on the Black Stone and a mini-event surrounding it.
The Black Stone, of course, was first mentioned by Robert E. Howard in one of his original tales, and Jim Zub sets the tone with an introductory essay on its importance.
If you missed them you can find earlier reviews of Savage Sword of Conan #1, Savage Sword of Conan #2 and Savage Sword of Conan #3 here.
All three are currently available here as a trade paperback.
Cover
This is the first cover of the new Titan run that I truly do not like. Mine is cover A, painted by David Palumbo. While I can appreciate the effort, something about it looks odd – almost computer-generated.
It reminds me of Iron Maiden’s Dance of Death album cover: an album I love, but with artwork that is better remembered as an example of what not to do.
Of course, art is (incredibly) subjective, and I’m sure many will enjoy this cover (including the artist himself and those who approved it, I assume). For me, though, it simply doesn’t work. It is by far my least favourite so far.
Art and Story
The main Savage Sword tale in this issue, “Birthright in Black,” is surprisingly short. In truth, it’s little more than a setup for the forthcoming Battle of the Black Stone series.
That said, it’s a solid enough story for its length. The art by Fernando Dagnino is competent and serviceable, even if he’s not my favourite Conan artist. As expected in an adult magazine, there’s some T&A, which fits the tone.
I enjoyed the writing overall. Jim Zub still can’t quite shake a certain Dungeons & Dragons flavour – Conan and his companions remind me a little of a Baldur’s Gate party venturing forth. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For what it is, the story does its job well.
Blood from a Stone (Solomon Kane)
By Patrick Zircher (story and art).
This is the Solomon Kane contribution to the Black Stone arc, and it is excellent. Zircher clearly knows and loves the character, and it shows. I enjoyed the story so much that I read it twice.
Without spoiling too much, it is deeply tied to the Black Stone. Kane faces a monstrous being – something almost Venomous in appearance – that feels perfectly suited to this kind of tale. It’s the sort of horror that even Conan himself would hesitate before. A strong and fitting story.
Brissa – Ever and Never Beyond
Written by Jim Zub, art by Dean Kotz.
Brissa has become one of Titan’s breakout characters, first introduced in the regular Conan the Barbarian run and quickly winning popularity.
Her story here is part backstory, part present-day thread, and – like the Conan piece – it serves mostly as an introduction to be continued in Battle of the Black Stone #1. Short though it is, it adds to the sense that this issue is building toward something larger.
Conrad & Kirowan – Horror from the Tomb
Written by Jeffrey Shanks, art by Eryk Donovan.
Until now, I’ve only read essays by Jeffrey Shanks, who is a superb Howard scholar. His depth of knowledge is unmatched, so I was intrigued to see him write a comic story.
The result is, for me, the highlight of the entire magazine. From the start it had Indiana Jones-style adventure vibes, with great banter between Conrad and Kirowan. I’ll admit I’m not deeply familiar with these characters, but I enjoyed them immensely here.
Donovan’s art is generally fitting, though at times it becomes too wispy, leaving me unsure what exactly I was looking at. At one point I wondered if I was seeing snakes, fire, or smoke – in fact, they were tendrils, though even on a second look they weren’t entirely clear.
Still, what a story. Shanks demonstrates that his storytelling ability matches his essay writing, and I very much hope to see more from him.
Dark Agnes – Matrimony
By Fred Kennedy and Andy Belanger.
Dark Agnes is a character I confess I don’t know well, so I cannot comment on the accuracy of her portrayal. But as a standalone tale, I found it enjoyable.
What really surprised me was the art style – distinctly manga-inspired, something I never expected to see in Savage Sword. But it works. The visuals are clear, punchy, and easy to follow, which is not something I could say for every story in this issue.
The narrative itself is another blend of flashback and foreshadowing, keeping with the issue’s theme of setup. Again, it left me curious for more.
Character Spotlight
This issue’s spotlight really belongs to the ensemble: Conan, Solomon Kane, Brissa, Conrad & Kirowan, and Dark Agnes all have their moments.
There’s also a fine pin-up at the end of the book, showing Robert E. Howard’s characters striding together towards the reader. It’s a fitting visual reminder of just how wide-ranging the Howard-verse really is.
Extras
The extras this time are mostly pin-ups. A couple are especially nice – I’ll leave them for readers to discover. They round off the magazine in classic Savage Sword fashion.
Where to Buy
You can read Savage Sword of Conan (2024) #4 in print from your local comic shop, digitally on Kindle, or in the trade paperback vol 2.
Final Thoughts & Rating
I’m giving this issue a solid 8 out of 10. It was a very enjoyable hour’s reading. The highlight, without doubt, is Jeffrey Shanks’ story, but the whole package is worthwhile.
I would say the magazine overall feels more like a tribute to Robert E. Howard’s wider creations than specifically to Conan – but that is not a bad thing.
At the moment we have plenty of Conan material being published, and I’m glad to see Titan giving Howard’s other characters space to shine as well.
8/10
