Disclosure: This post is reader-powered and contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Savage Sword of Conan (2024) #6 Review – King Conan: The Ensorcelled, Part 3 – The Woods of the Witchbreaker

Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Geof Isherwood
Letterers: Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Tyler Smith
Publisher: Titan Comics
Published: November 2024

Cover

I have Cover A by Jason Shawn Alexander, another strong painted piece. It features King Conan – an older, crowned version of the Cimmerian – rendered with impressive craftsmanship.

It’s slightly darker than I’d prefer, which makes some details difficult to discern, but it works overall. The tone is moody and dramatic, fitting perfectly with the story’s later direction.

Interestingly, it contrasts the cheerful opening but proves fitting as events unfold.
A striking and effective cover.

Intro

This is King Conan: The Ensorcelled, Part 3 – The Woods of the Witchbreaker.
Parts one and two appeared in last month’s review of Savage Sword of Conan #5.

I love the start of this one. Conan is singing full-throatedly – an obscene song, of course – as he strides through the forested tundra. He’s happy, relaxed, and at peace for a brief moment.

This aspect of Conan is, in my opinion, criminally underused: his mirth. His humour and joy, along with his melancholy, are key elements of Robert E. Howard’s original conception.

As the big man (REH) himself once said:

“Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandaled feet.”

I’m glad to see these feelings featured here. They make Conan human, complex, and far more than ‘just’ a brooding warrior.

We usually see his rage and sorrow, but not his laughter. I love that Jason Aaron brings that side of Conan back here. It’s a fantastic opening.

Story and Art

This might be my favourite story in the series so far, for several reasons.
As always, this is a spoiler-light review, so I’ll avoid specifics.

We know Conan as a fighter, thief, reaver, and barbarian – but never as a sorcerer. This issue raises an intriguing question: could Conan ever have been one, and what would that mean?

One of the defining traits of Howard’s Conan is his iron will – his refusal to be dominated or broken. That idea is explored beautifully here.

Most sorcerers in the Hyborian Age become enslaved to the demonic powers they wield. But what if Conan, with his unyielding will, faced the same temptation? 

Could even he be consumed? It’s a powerful concept and executed with depth and imagination.

Geof Isherwood’s art suits the tone perfectly – crisp, muscular, and shadowed, working especially well in black and white. 

His storytelling is generally clear and dynamic. However, one page layout felt disjointed enough that I briefly wondered if a page was missing – a sentiment echoed by other readers online. A minor misstep, but worth noting.

Overall this was a very strong story, one of the best of recent times. We’ve got both sword and sorcery, and Conan doing what he does best. I don’t want to give spoilers, but do yourself a favour and read it!

Madness on the Mound

Next comes a short story, Madness on the Mound, by Matthew John – pure pulp excellence distilled into a few pages. It captures the fast-paced, blood-and-thunder spirit of the original Conan tales.

Having read countless post–Howard Conan stories, I can confidently say that few truly capture the essence of the character. Conan arguably shines best in short fiction, and this story proves it.

Picking up after The Frost Giant’s Daughter, we revisit Niord and Old Gorm, with even a subtle nod to Fafnir – presumably the same character from the early Conan the Barbarian comics of the 1970s. Those Easter eggs are nice touches for long-time fans.

It’s a brisk, exciting read that perfectly evokes the classic spirit of Howardian storytelling. Highly recommended.

The accompanying artwork was also excellent – fitting to how we often see Conan in his Frost Giant’s Daughter time – horned helmet and all!

Dark Agnes – The Head of Saint Denis

The issue concludes with Dark Agnes: The Head of Saint Denis.

Unfortunately, this was the weakest segment for me. To be fair, I’m not deeply familiar with Dark Agnes, so I can’t fully gauge how true the portrayal is, but the story didn’t resonate.

The narration feels far too heavy – almost every panel includes one or two caption boxes, resulting in too much telling and not enough showing. 

The artwork is competent and well-paced, but the story itself is unmemorable. Even a day later, it barely lingered in my mind.
Definitely the least engaging part of the magazine.

Character Spotlight

This issue’s focus on Conan himself is refreshing. After the ensemble structure of Savage Sword issue #4, it’s satisfying to see Cimmerian stay strongly centre-stage.

The witch in the main story is also a strong addition, and I hope we get to revisit her and her offspring in the future…

Extras

There aren’t any additional features beyond the Dark Agnes story, but that’s perfectly acceptable. A full issue devoted primarily to Conan more than compensates.

Howard Accuracy and Faithfulness

The first story diverges somewhat from traditional portrayals by leaning heavily into the realm of sorcery – yet it does so in a way that feels authentic and true to the spirit of Howard’s world.
Madness on the Mound, meanwhile, feels like something Howard himself would have appreciated.
Together, they strike a strong balance between faithfulness and creative innovation.

Where to Buy

You can find Savage Sword of Conan (2024) #6 at your local comic shop (if still available) or as part of the Savage Sword of Conan vol 2 trade paperback collection.

Final Thoughts & Rating

I’m giving this issue a firm 9 out of 10.

The main story was excellent, and the short story was a superb addition. It’s one I’ll gladly revisit.

Overall – 9/10, the highest rating I’ve awarded any issue of Savage Sword of Conan (Titan, 2024) so far. Well worth picking up.

Disclosure: This post is reader-powered and contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

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!). Is it worth your hard-earned cash?

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) #5 REVIEW – King Conan: The Ensorcelled, Part One

Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Geof Isherwood
Letterers: Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Tyler Smith
Publisher: Titan Comics
Published: November 2024

Introduction

In contrast to the last issue of The Savage Sword of Conan (#4), which was largely a tribute to Robert E. Howard with stories about his wider creations, this installment is all Conan, all the way through.

Inside we get three stories – one long feature and two shorter tales – and every single one of them focuses directly on the Cimmerian himself. The main feature is King Conan: The Ensorcelled, Part One – The Beast in Brythunia.

I’ve found I have a penchant for Conan stories that dig into the history and culture of specific lands rather than being set in a vague, random location. This issue does that well.

Here we’re in Brythunia, depicted as a feudal-style land filled mostly with peasants – not unlike medieval Europe – easily swayed by mob mentality. Witch-burning is a central theme, and while I’ll avoid spoiling too much, it’s fair to say that is the backdrop of the main story here.

Cover

This issue features a fantastic cover by the legendary Joe Jusko. It’s a classic throwback to the old Savage Sword of Conan style: bold, pulpy, larger-than-life.

Unlike some recent covers, this one has little to do with the actual stories inside, but that in itself is a nostalgic nod – many of the great covers of the original Savage Sword had only a tenuous connection to their contents.

Regardless, it’s a striking image and one I really enjoy looking at.

Main Story: King Conan – The Ensorcelled, Part One

Written by Jason Aaron with art by Geof Isherwood, this is a strong start to what promises to be a compelling arc.

Conan here is slightly indecisive, flip-flopping a little over what he wants to do, but that feels intentional – part of the ongoing, longer story. Since this is Part One, it sets the stage for more to come in the next issue in a couple of months (remember, this is a bi-monthly comic). But who am I kidding, I bought it already!

In this tale, Conan takes the side of a witch, and the events unfold from there. Again, I won’t spoil the plot further.

Art

The art is solid overall. A couple of panels in the physical magazine were difficult to read – not quite clear enough, it seems like the ink bled a little – but for the most part it’s functional and effective.

There’s also a pin-up by Tim Sale (from 2005). While it’s beautifully drawn, it didn’t quite work for me as Conan art. Conan looks a little too aristocratic, lacking the raw, primal energy I associate with him. That said, it’s still high-quality artwork, just not how I picture the barbarian.

Second Story: Conan Damn thing in the Water

The first of the two shorter tales is a virtually silent piece – only a single line of text across the two pages.

It’s a fun little vignette: Conan, his horse, and a tentacled monster. The setting isn’t made clear – it could be anywhere in the Hyborian Age (and that does work against it) – perhaps in a cave, though the art is a little dark to be certain.

It’s short, but amusing, and the ending gave me a smile. Good horse 😀

Third Story: Forged

The final piece, written by Michael Kogge with art by Dan Parsons, takes us back to Conan’s youth.

Here we see Conan around twelve years old, helping his father in the forge when a band of Zingarans visit their Cimmerian village. This surprised me – I don’t recall many references in Howard’s work to Zingarans travelling so far north. Whether it’s “canon” is debatable, but it was new to me.

In this short tale, young Conan gets his chance to shine. It’s a slight, almost throwaway piece, but it does the job of fleshing out Conan’s backstory.

Character Spotlight

No question – this issue belongs entirely to Conan.

After issue #4 focused on other characters from the Howard mythos, it’s refreshing to have a full magazine devoted to the barbarian himself.

The witch in the main story is also interesting, and I’m eager to see where her role leads in Part Two.

Howard Accuracy / Faithfulness

The portrayal of Brythunia felt spot-on, capturing the mob-driven, witch-burning culture of Medieval Europe.

Conan here is an older King Conan – set long after Howard’s original tales – so we can’t call it entirely faithful in that sense.

But Jason Aaron does capture much of Conan’s essence, and the “Howardian vibes” are present throughout.

Best Panel or Scene

For me, the standout moment was when the witch calls back her three bears, and they slink off into the woods. It’s a powerful image – evocative, eerie, and beautifully rendered. You can almost see it playing out like a scene from a film.

Extras

This issue doesn’t contain many extras – but that’s fine, because what we do get is all Conan, and that’s exactly what I wanted.

Where to Buy

You can try your local comic shop if they still have copies in stock, or pick it up in the collected trade paperback edition.

Final Thoughts & Rating

This was a strong issue – not quite as excellent as last month’s (#4), but still a solid, satisfying entry in the series.

The three Conan stories each had their own merits:

• The Ensorcelled, Part One promises a gripping arc.
• Damn Thing in the Water was short and amusing.
• Forged was a fun, if slight, diversion.

The Joe Jusko cover is a real highlight – a beautiful throwback to the golden age of Savage Sword.

Overall, I give Savage Sword of Conan (2024) #5 a 7 out of 10. Well worth picking up, and I’m genuinely looking forward to Part Two of the main story.

Disclosure: This post is reader-powered and contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

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. The Savage Sword issue #5 review is here, too.

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

Disclosure: This post is reader-powered and contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

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) #3 REVIEW – Conan: Wolves of the Tundra

Writer: Frank Tieri
Artist: Cary Nord
Letterers: Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Tyler Smith
Publisher: Titan Comics
Published: July 2024

Cover

Another painted cover from Alex Horley and I love it. Very evocative of earlier Savage Swords – this one is a real tribute. Great stuff.

Art and Story

The main story here is Conan: Wolves of the Tundra, written by Frank Tieri and with art by Cary Nord – one of my all-time favourite Conan artists.

Nord’s Dark Horse work is iconic, and after John Buscema, he might just be my favourite Conan artist. That said, in black and white magazine format, his art doesn’t shine quite as brightly.

It feels a little less detailed, or maybe it’s the format – either way, it didn’t land as powerfully as I’d hoped. Still high-quality art, just not as impressive as his previous work.

**since I started uploading digital images for this review, I have to admit the art looks a lot better on screen. Something didn’t quite work in the magazine format – I felt like the ink bled and the edges lost their sharpness.

I think it actually looks significantly better digitally than it does on paper, which is a shame.

Story-wise, this one was just okay. It revolves around Conan being possessed, which, for me, is a misstep.

Conan’s indomitable will is arguably his greatest strength — the thing that sees him through every outnumbered, deadly encounter.

Taking that away undermines the essence of his character. We’ve seen this before in other modern arcs, and it just never quite feels right. I get why trying it is in an interesting idea but it doesn’t land for me.

The ending does redeem things slightly with a fun and satisfying final page (not the one shown below, I don’t want to spoil it!).

Howard Accuracy / Faithfulness

Not especially faithful this time around. In the original stories, I can’t recall a time when Conan lost his free will entirely. It’s just not in his nature. Possession and loss of agency don’t really align with Howard’s version of the Cimmerian. If I’m wrong and he does, leave me a comment below and I’ll happily correct myself.

Character Spotlight

It’s Conan from beginning to end, but due to the possession, he doesn’t really feel like himself. There aren’t any other notable characters to highlight in this story.

Best Panel or Scene

The final page stands out. It got a chuckle from me and ended the story on a much-needed high note. I won’t show it here because I don’t want to spoil it for you!

Extras

This is where the issue redeems itself.

First up is a long excerpt from Conan and the Living Plague by John C. Hocking — one of two novels featured in Conan: City of the Dead.

I’ve read both and enjoyed them, and this excerpt is a solid reminder of why.

Conan facing off against a horde of ghouls in a crypt and running blindly into something and nearly knocking himself out? Sounds like Conan!

There’s also a biography of John C. Hocking, which is well worth reading. It provides insight into the author’s connection with Conan and how he came to write about him.

Next is Master of the Hunt, Part 3, the final chapter of the Solomon Kane story by Patrick Zircher, with letters by Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt.

The first two parts were excellent — this one, while still good, shifts from creeping horror to more straightforward action.

It felt shorter and less impactful than it could’ve been. Honestly, this could’ve been merged with the previous chapter.

Then we have a short poem from Jim Zub, Call Thee to Crom, with art by the incredible Rob De La Torre. A quick read, but very effective. Zub continues Howard’s legacy with his forays into poetry as well as prose (as seen in this review of Savage Sword of Conan 2).

Finally, there’s Lure of the Pit Creature by Alan Quah — a silent Conan comic with no text at all. It’s very well done.

The art is clear and engaging, and the story works despite having no dialogue. The panel layout is distinctive too, with a grid structure on some pages that adds to the pacing and action. A great way to close the issue.

Final Thoughts & Rating

This one was a bit of a letdown after the strong first two issues.

The main story just didn’t click — possession isn’t a good fit for Conan’s character, and even Cary Nord’s usually stellar art didn’t quite deliver in this format.

That said, the extras are strong, and there’s enough good material here to make the issue worth picking up. But compared to what came before, this is definitely a step back.

Rating: 6/10

Where to Buy

Probably the easiest way to get hold of Savage Sword of Conan (2024) #3 is in the trade paperback. You might be able to pick up a back issue on eBay (buy on eBay).

Disclosure: This post is reader-powered and contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

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) #2 REVIEW – Conan: Leaving the garden

Writer: Jim Zub
Artist(s): Richard Pace
Published: Titan Comics, May 2024

Cover

We’ve got a painted cover from Dave Dorman that actually fits the content of the story very well — a welcome change from the classic Conan trend where the cover often had little to do with the interior.

This one captures the mood and moment of the tale with accuracy and strength. I’ve got the A variant, but there are many covers to explore if you’re a collector.

It’s a solid front cover, nasty monsters included — no complaints here.

Below–they’ve fixed the printing issues that plagued the first issue (full review of Savage Sword of Conan #1 here) but this time we only get half the map (which was unreadable first time out…)

Art

This is where the issue stumbles. The first page starts strong with a really nice full-page spread, but after that, the art takes a significant dive.

It’s a sketchy, rough style that some might find expressive, but in black and white, it often becomes hard to follow.

Many pages look more like unfinished roughs than polished illustrations.

It’s a real letdown, especially for a title like Savage Sword of Conan, which traditionally comes with high artistic expectations. John Buscema this is not.

Richard Pace’s work here just doesn’t meet the standard — and I genuinely hope this isn’t the direction for future issues. I know some people will like this style, but it’s not anything for me.

Story

Which is such a shame, because the story itself is brilliant. It’s dark, moody, sad, and genuinely unsettling. Jim Zub has really taken things up a level here.

Conan is a little more restful and introspective than usual, perhaps unusually so — but given the circumstances in the story, it works.

He’s still forced into action, and when he moves, he moves decisively. It’s an excellent, emotionally rich tale. Story alone? 8 out of 10.

Howard Accuracy / Faithfulness

Conan here is deeply Howardian. He perseveres, he rages, he fights back when cornered. And he has that soft spot for the helpless — one of the truest traits of Howard’s original barbarian.

He gets himself out of a sticky situation or two, and his moral code — rough as it may be — remains intact. I think Robert E. Howard would be satisfied with this portrayal.

Character Spotlight

Conan himself takes the spotlight this time. It’s a focused story, and it’s all about him — and it works. We see different sides of him here: wearied, reflective, angry, and resilient.

Best Panel or Scene

Probably the scene where Conan shows his domination over lesser predators, shall we say.

It’s a moment that captures his raw, unshakable presence — even if the art makes it harder to fully appreciate. That scene still cuts through.

Extras

Back to the good stuff. We get a letters page titled Chainmail, which is a brilliant throwback to the 70s and 80s vibe. Absolutely love it.

We also get part two of the Pat Zircher Solomon Kane story. The art here is fantastic — detailed, evocative, and completely opposite the Conan feature.

It’s a shorter segment this time and feels a little like a filler, but I’m still looking forward to the conclusion (possibly in the next issue). Kane is as sharp and stoic as ever.

We also get another note from Rialto at the end, pointing us to Conan.com — a nice in-world touch.

Where to Buy

Probably the easiest way to get hold of Savage Sword of Conan (2024) #2 is in the trade paperback. You might be able to pick up a back issue on eBay (look on eBay).

Final Thoughts & Rating

This issue drops back to a 7 out of 10. The story is easily an 8 — the best so far — but the art drags the experience down considerably.

The Solomon Kane backup is still strong, even if a little more subdued this time around. I still love seeing stories set in Wales.

Here’s hoping issue #3 brings the visuals back up to the level the writing deserves.

7/10.

Disclosure: This post is reader-powered and contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

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) #1 REVIEW – Conan and the Dragon Horde

Writer: John Arcudi
Artist: Max von Fafner
Letterers: Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Jimmy Bettencourt
Published: Titan Comics, February 2024

INTRO

The Savage Sword of Conan has a LOT to live up to. Insanely popular in it’s heyday and well-loved still fifty years later.

Some of the greatest comic writers and artists have graced its pages, and it’s personal favourite of mine, too.

So, does the new version live up to the hype, and is it worth your time and money? The short answer is… yes. The longer answer is below (without spoilers!).

Talking of intros, the legendary Roy Thomas kicks us off with a welcome letter here. As usual, it’s an interesting and varied read, and it amazes me how much he can remember from his younger years.

Cover

Savage Sword of Conan covers have a lot of history and some iconic artwork.

They were often linked with some of the very best artists in the world, and you’ll be happy to know we’re back with Joe Jusko — at least for the standard variant.

It’s a great cover, a classic–painted and with a damsel holding onto Conan’s leg for safety. And, as often happened, has very little to do with the actual story 😅.

Art

Unfortunately, we do have printing problems here. There’s a beautiful map at the start of the Hyborian Age, but it’s barely readable — so dark you can hardly make anything out.

Apparently this is fixed in later issues, which is good to know, but it’s still not well done.

I’ve ordered a copy of the map (available on the official Conan website) and look forward to hanging it on the wall.

The art in the story itself is actually pretty nice. Max von Fafner does a good job, and I like it overall.

One of the big issues, though, is the dinosaurs in this story. There’s been a lot of talk online about whether dinosaurs belong in Conan stories.

I don’t see why not — there was a dinosaur in Red Nails, and in at least one other Savage Sword I can think of.

No problem for me there. However, one of the dinosaurs here — especially in a double-page spread — just looks photoshopped in. It’s really quite jarring.

A pretty poor double-page feature, to be honest, and the next page doesn’t improve things either.

Story

We’ve got a classic setup. Conan gets tricked — perhaps a bit too easily, but that did happen occasionally in the original stories.

Kull gets tricked even more easily than Conan, so this one might even fit Kull better in tone. But overall, it’s a solid story.

Character Spotlight

We meet Ineah, a pretty cool character and not your typical damsel in distress. It’s quite a sexy story with her — this is Savage Sword, after all, and we can expect a bit more flesh and sex.

There’s T&A in there, and all in all, a solid addition. The magazine was always more adult since it didn’t have to follow the Comics Code, and we see that tone again here.

Howard Accuracy / Faithfulness

As mentioned, the dinosaur inclusion is fine by me — Howard used them. Conan is pretty much Conan, too.

As mentioned, he gets tricked a little too easily maybe, but he’s still as tough as ever and ready to fight for a woman or the possibility of treasure. His barbarian code of honour is also intact.

Extras

This is where it gets really good.

• The Road of Kings, a poem by Robert E. Howard. A great poem. If you haven’t read it before – enjoy!
  
• Sacrifice in the Sand, a short story from Jim Zub. He’s not usually a prose writer, but he does a good job. I enjoyed this one.
  
  With more practice, he could become very good at it. A couple of paragraphs toward the end felt off, but I won’t spoil those — see for yourself.
  
• Master of the Hunt, the highlight of the issue in my opinion. A Solomon Kane story by Patrick Zircher, who also does the art. Lettering is by Starkings and Bettencourt again. This is a horror story set in Wales — which I really appreciated.
  
  I grew up near the Welsh border, lived in Wales for four years, and just spent a couple of days there again, including at Raglan Castle where I did some archery. Loved seeing Wales get the limelight.
  
  The story is probably either a two- or three-parter. It ends with “to be continued” and I can’t wait for more. This is my favourite story in the whole book, both in art and writing.
  
  Solomon Kane is how he usually is — maybe a slightly smoother version, but very enjoyable.
  
• Cover gallery at the back — sadly printed so darkly I can barely see them. That’s poor.
  
• A nice essay from Jeffrey Shanks called Men Shall Die for This, about Solomon Kane. Shanks is an incredibly knowledgeable Robert E. Howard scholar, and that really shines through. If you’re into Kane, read this.

Where to Buy

You can read Savage Sword of Conan (2024) #1 via printed form at your local comic shop (if still available), or on kindle from Amazon. There is also a Conan trade paperback of the first three issues, which is probably now the easiest way to get it.

Final Thoughts & Rating

This is a great start. I’m giving the main story a solid 7 out of 10. The Pat Zircher Solomon Kane story gets an 8. With the rest of the extras, including the Roy Thomas introduction, I’m giving this issue an overall 8 out of 10. This is how Savage Sword of Conan should carry on.

8/10.

Disclosure: This post is reader-powered and contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

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!

The last two reviews (Conan the Dance of the Skull and Conan Two Against Hawk City) have beem excellent. So does this week’s hold up?

Conan the Barbarian #85 – Of Swordsmen and Sorcerers

Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas
Illustrators: John Buscema and Ernie Chan
Colorist: Phil Rache
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Consulting Editor: Archie Goodwin
Cover Penciller: John Buscema
Cover Inker: Ernie Chan
Published: Marvel, April 1978

Cover

We find out from the cover that we’re going to learn the origin of Zula — and we do. This cover is really nice, even better than the last one.

There’s a wider colour range, and we see a semi-transparent eagle or bird of prey between Zula and Conan, who appear to be fighting — a surprise since they were best buddies last issue.

I absolutely love this cover. Another great Buscema and Chan collaboration.

Art

The art is absolutely fantastic. If you’re into ’70s comic art, this is peak Buscema. Wide, dramatic panels packed with detail — it’s all here.

The standout is Zula’s origin story. The colouring is fantastic and the story is gripping.

You can see shifts in art style between stories, with some backstory scenes being thin and detailed, and others much bolder — a great touch.

Story

This issue doesn’t move the story forward much. Instead, we get a recap of recent events, mainly Conan catching Zula up with what’s been going on.

We get to recall N’yaga’s grim fate (turned into an old lady), then Conan enters a strongman competition and finally punches a giant.

The highlight is Zula’s origin, easily the strongest part.

Given how hard it was to track down past issues in the ’70s, it makes sense that we get a recap from time to time, but it does slow the pace a bit.

You can read more from the behind the scenes in the mega-insightful books, Barbarian Life from Roy Thomas.

Howard Accuracy / Faithfulness

This one’s interesting. Conan breaks a bond — something rare for him. But he does it to honour another bond.

Which one matters more is left for the reader to decide. Also, we get a clear reminder of how much Conan hates sorcery — something very true to Howard’s original work.

Character Spotlight

Zula again takes the spotlight. His background story is intriguing.

We get to learn more about Stygia — and in particular Khemi and Kheshatta.

It’s a very interesting story, and I’m looking forward to spending more time following his adventures as well.

Best Panel or Scene

My favourite panel is probably the half — or a bit more than half — a page picture of Zula arriving at Kheshatta (pictured above).

It’s beautifully drawn and gives a pretty spooky feeling from the outset. The page following it absolutely follows along that path.

It looks like we’re about to meet a very nasty old wizard.

Where to Buy

It’s probably easiest to get hold of in the new Titan Conan Omnibus #4, or look for it as a single issue of Conan the Barbarian #85 – Of Swordsmen and Sorcerers on eBay (buy on eBay) or similar platform.

Final Thoughts & Rating

RATING: 7.5/10 I enjoyed the issue a lot because of Zula’s origin, but the rest of it didn’t move the main story forward enough.

It served more as a recap of recent events, which felt like a bit much all in one go.

That said, it’s got me excited to see where things go next. And the art is truly phenomenal. It honestly doesn’t get much better than this, in my humble opinion.

The epilogue returns to Bêlit and Neftha, and it feels like the storylines may soon collide.

Disclosure: This post is reader-powered and contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

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!

This issue reviews the original Marvel Conan the Barbarian #84 – if you missed the Conan #83 review make sure you check that out first! And accordingly, the follow up, Conan #85 review is here.

Conan the Barbarian #84 – Two Against the Hawk City

Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas
Illustrators: Ernie Chan (Embellisher), John Buscema (Artist)
Colorist: P. Rache
Letterer: M. Royer
Consulting Editor: Archie Goodwin
Cover Penciller: John Buscema
Cover Inker: Tony DeZuniga
Published: Marvel, March 1978

Cover

Here we’ve got Conan using a chain as a weapon, so we can probably assume there’s going to be something with him being prisoner or captive.

It’s a good cover, not the most exciting because there’s a fair bit of grey at the bottom and a fairly plain blue background.

However, it is action-packed, and we are introduced to Zula, swordsman and sorcerer — so we can probably expect a new partner for Conan, at least for one issue.

In fact, it’s Zula’s first appearance, and we’re just about to meet him again in the new Titan/Heroic Conan run.

The cover also tells us that Big John Buscema is back!

Although he did the last few covers, he had taken a five issue break from interior art due to his work on The Savage Sword of Conan and his book with Stan Lee, How To Draw The Marvel Way (which is still in print!).

Art

We’re back to absolute classic John Buscema art. Nice wide panels, very clear and concise drawing, and great facial expressions on Conan — Buscema really nails those.

Once again, the coloring is very nice, although I don’t think it’s quite as good as Roussos’ in the last two issues.

Roussos had a great eye for balancing vibrant highlights with moodier shadows, especially in spooky or night-time scenes, which added a strong atmosphere that really elevated the tone.

In comparison, the coloring here feels a bit flatter, particularly where large swaths of blue dominate the palette.

To show black they leaned heavily on blue tones, which was common for the era, but in some places I think it goes a little too far.

Interestingly, this is even mentioned in the letters page from the time. The snakes in here look gorgeous as well — this is some top-quality stuff.

Story

We’re back onto the main arc of Queen of the Black Coast.

Conan, having left the swamp of the last couple of issues, returns to Hawk-City on a mission from the king.

Expecting to find Bêlit waiting for him, he discovers she is gone.

The story splits between Conan and Bêlit’s perspectives — she’s off with Neftha, someone she previously travelled with, while Conan meets a new partner: Zula.

It’s great to see both perspectives.

Bêlit proves she’s far from helpless, and Conan is most definitely going to find out what happened.

We also get a few moments of dark humour — maybe not so funny for the characters involved, but Roy Thomas’s touch comes through nicely.

Howard Accuracy / Faithfulness

This story isn’t based on a specific Robert E. Howard tale, but features Conan and Bêlit’s world in all its glory.

Conan behaves as expected — tough, direct, and always ready to fight.

He doesn’t easily fall into partnerships, but recognises when he has no choice and accepts it begrudgingly—very much in the spirit of Howard’s original character.

Character Spotlight

This goes to Yonda Udonto — or Zula, as he’s otherwise known. A great new character who seems to be both a sorcerer and a warrior.

He’s almost as strong and skilled as Conan — not quite, but let’s be honest, who is?

To be fair, he does knock Conan out at least once (though hardly in a fair fight).

Looks like he and Conan might make a good team.

Interestingly, Roy Thomas notes in his Barbarian Life 2 book that it would have been very easy to make Zula a Marvel character (and a Marvel lawyer advised that) but he wanted the character to belong to the Howard/Conan estate.

Best Panel or Scene

Two favourites this time: first, when Bêlit and Neftha essentially turn into snakes and slither through a gap — creepy and cool.

Second, Conan and Zula’s prison escape — classic Conan action with a touch of comedy (not for the guards).

Where to Buy

It’s probably easiest to get hold of it in the new Titan/Heroic Conan Omnibus 4, or as a single copy of Conan Two Against The Hawk-City on eBay (get on eBay).

Final Thoughts & Rating

Great issue — 7.5/10.

I enjoyed the dual perspectives of Conan and Bêlit. Her solo quest was intriguing, and Conan meeting another warrior (Zula) is always fun.

I think we’re looking at the beginning of a longer arc here — I’d guess we’ve got a few connected issues ahead to look forward to!

Disclosure: This post is reader-powered and contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

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!

Conan the Barbarian #83 – The Dance of the Skull

Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas
Guest Illustrators: Howard Chaykin and Ernie Chan
Colorist: G. Roussos
Letterer: Tim Orz
Consulting Editor: Archie Goodwin
Cover Penciller: John Buscema
Cover Inker: Ernie Chan
Published: Marvel, Feb 1978

Cover

Another classic from Buscema and Chan. We’ve got Conan battling three man-dragons somewhere underwater.

The action is dynamic, Conan is mid-stab and surrounded on all sides, and you get a real sense of danger and energy.

The twisted forms of the creatures make it clear who’s ‘good and bad’, and the composition draws your eye straight to the heart of the conflict. It’s an eye-catching and energetic piece.

I’m sure I would have bought it if I’d seen it on the shelf.

Art

Once again, with Buscema on a short hiatus, the art team of Chaykin and Chan really gels.

It’s maybe not quite at the classic Buscema level, but for ‘guest’ illustrators they go above and beyond.

We get lots of tall, thin, vertical panels, especially in the first half, which is quite unusual for a Conan story — but there’s a lot of action going on, and it fits it very well.

It gives the story a real sense of urgency and speeds the story along quickly.

The first few pages have a lot of blue and green hues, which give way to some very intense reds and yellows later in the story.

Once again, I’m a big fan of Roussos’ colouring work. He is quickly becoming one of my absolute favourites.

Story

Okay, so this issue is a conclusion of the build-up that we had last week.

We know that Conan and others are being bewitched by someone or something, and we’re going to find out who and why today.

I won’t say too much else without making it a spoiler, but we definitely get the resolution we wanted — with a bit of a twist at the end as well.

The twist itself was satisfying and hit the right note, even if it wasn’t completely unexpected — it tied things up well while leaving a little room for Conan to reflect.

Howard Accuracy / Faithfulness

This is a two-parter and it’s based on Black Canaan by Robert E. Howard (which I still haven’t read).

It does have our swords, sorcery, sorcerer and sorceress, so I’d say this fits the theme very well.

We see the best of Conan’s skills – tracking, hunting, fighting… and how he uses his brain to resist, not just his brawn.

There are plenty of Conan’s superstitions and hates in here too. And once again, he will stick by those who are loyal to him.

We also have an instance of Conan being relatively nonplussed by a fairly sensitive situation. Then he goes on to do some mercy killing, which I think fits him quite well.

Character Spotlight

I’ll stick with Neth-At, who Conan befriended last week, and he continues his adventures with him this week. I like him for the most part.

I said (with a little tongue in cheek) that they’ll probably be friends for a long time — we’ll see if that is really the case or not.

Best Panel or Scene

I’m going to go with where Toroa, the witchman, does his dance. You can almost smell the fire and hear the drums as he becomes the puppet-master.

The colouring is fantastic. The glaring red eyes look particularly evil and fit the theme of the story. The flames and the shadows also look fantastic and even better on paper.

Where to Buy

It’s probably easiest to read The Dance of the Skull in the new Titan/Heroic Conan Omnibus 3, or you might get lucky and find a single issue on eBay (search eBay), though it seems to be one of the rarer ones.

Final Thoughts & Rating

A good story, and I liked the panel layouts — they were energetic and fairly unique.

You rarely see this style in Conan books and it brought the story along very quickly (much like Robert E Howard would have done), and I enjoyed the twist at the end.

Even if the resolution didn’t quite reach the same heights as the buildup, the pacing, atmosphere, and character work carried the issue through very nicely.

Rating: 7/10.

Conan continues his adventures next in our Conan Two Against Hawk City review and Conan of Swordsmen and Sorcerers. Enjoy!

Disclosure: This post is reader-powered and contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

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!

Writer/editor: Roy Thomas​

Guest illustrators: Howard Chaykin and Ernie Chan

Colorist: Greg Roussos

Letterer: John Costanza

Consulting editor: Archie Goodwin

Cover Penciller: John Buscema

Cover Inker: Ernie Chan

Published: Marvel, January 1978.

Cover

Not an all-time classic, but solid work from John Buscema and Ernie Chan. For once it actually fits what’s going on inside the issue very nicely!

Art

Honestly, it’s a beautiful piece.

Buscema had taken a break in his run at this point and handed the reigns over to Howard Chaykin and Ernie Chan for a few issues.

They are more than up to the challenge, and combined with Roussos’ colouring we have another great art team.

In fact, I absolutely love the colouring from Greg Roussos. The more I see of it, the more highly I rate him. He had a long ol’ stint on Conan in the end, and his warm colour palette really brings fantasy art to life.

Just look at this page below. It looks even better on paper.

Story

We’re right in the middle of Roy Thomas’ defining Queen of the Black Coast run and Conan has taken a break from Bêlit to head inland for a couple of adventures.

The story is surprisingly strong and has smacks of Gods of the North/The Frost Giant’s daughter about it (an original Robert E Howard story), with a warmer-climes twist.

It’s definitely a building-up issue, and we can probably expect a resolution in the next one!

Howard Accuracy / Faithfulness

It’s freely adapted from ‘Black Canaan’, an original Robert E Howard Story (which I haven’t read yet).

It’s definitely Marvel and Thomas’ Conan, and this is not as violent as Savage Sword, but Conan does indeed do Conan things.

He chases women, fights and kills others (who attack him first) and generally does Barbarian-y stuff.

The text unfortunately contains racially outdated terminology, with one group frequently referred to as ‘blacks’, which can be disconcerting for contemporary readers.

While the narrative does attempt to counterbalance this at times—for example when Conan says ‘I choose my comrades by other things than skin color these days’—certain panels remain problematic through a modern lens.

Character Spotlight

Conan meets an interesting Egyptian Stygian called Neth-At who is sensible enough not to attack Conan on sight (if only others had paid attention).

In fact, the two strike up quite a rapport and you get the feeling they may be buddies for many years to come…

Best Panel or Scene

This is probably my favourite scene–the tension is really cranking up as Conan sneaks up on a hut with no idea what he’ll find, but his dread of the supernatural is kicking in strongly. Will he run?

Extras

There’s a nice Marvel Bullpen mailbag and an ad for 1978 calendars. I wasn’t even born then but I’d love the Frazetta calendar, and a Star Wars t-shirt, thanks!

Where to Buy

It’s probably easiest to get hold of in the new Titan Conan Omnibus 3 or as a single issue of The Sorceress of the Swamp on eBay (get on eBay).

Final Thoughts & Rating

I really enjoyed this issue and I can’t wait to see what happens next week!

Rating: 7.5/10

Can a more mature Red Sonja cope with her fame?

Well, not entirely.

There are so many versions of Sonja it’s hard to know where to start.

Sonya or Sonja?

Red Sonya of Rogatino first appeared as the O.G in Robert E. Howard’s The Shadow of the Vulture back in 1934. And what a story it is.

She was a no-nonsense, gun-wielding warrior from the 16th century, fighting against the Ottoman Empire with sheer grit and skill.

Fast forward to the 1970s, and writer Roy Thomas, along with artist Barry Windsor-Smith, took inspiration from her (and a few other Howard heroines) to create Red Sonja – but this time, as a sword-swinging warrior in Conan’s Hyborian Age.

Unlike the original, this Sonja had a mystical backstory involving a goddess and a famous vow, plus her now-iconic chain mail bikini. Over the years, she’s become a legendary figure in comics in her own right, standing alongside Conan as one of fantasy’s most badass warriors.

I bought the Red Sonja humble bundle a couple of years ago and there are a LOT of comics about her. Nearly every writer seems to have a different version of Sonja in mind, and her backstory has changed multiple times, too.

So where does she go next?

As always, this review will strive to be spoiler-free and leave the (hopefully) best moments for you to uncover yourself. Any plot points mentioned will be very generalised or happen early in the book.

For this particular book I am reviewing the audio version of Red Sonja: Consumed which I got on Amazon Audible.

Introduction

Red Sonja: Consumed is the latest Red Sonja novel to be released. In fact, it’s the only Red Sonja novel since the 1980s series from David C. Smith and Richard L. Tierney. It’s published by Orbit Books and is Gail Simone’s debut novel.

The audio book is narrated by Felicia Day.

Overview

The book follows a guilt-ridden Red Sonja dealing with recent actions while fighting her own inner demons and the weight of her legendary status.

It’s very much the Gail Simone comic version of Red Sonja. Hard-drinking, bisexual, indecisive. How you feel about her will make a huge difference.

The Good

• The backstory was well-paced and well-done
• The chapter introductions with historical-style points of view added interesting layers
• Some of the ‘horror elements’ were solid and pretty grim
• Call me naive but I didn’t see the twist coming

The Bad

• The character development was somewhat shallow
• Character motivations were incredibly inconsistent for the most part
• Some sections seemed forced and quick, others were too slow to build up
• Most characters were surprisingly annoying, and by the end I didn’t care for any of them
• Sonja is a legendary fighter but she’s constantly caught unawares by just about everyone, including kids/teenagers

The Middling

• Not the original backstory, so a lot will depend on how you feel about that

Overall Impression

The book probably falls into the ‘romantasy’ genre, or ‘swords and soulmates’ as I’ve reliably heard it called, rather than straight up ‘sword and sorcery’.

While the action scenes are decent, they’re too short and far between. A gladiator bout takes place halfway through and shows what the She-devil with a sword can do when her back is against the wall (literally). If there were more scenes like this, the book would be better for it.

The sex scenes start well but but don’t go very deep and end too quickly (make your own puns up from that). The love-stories are ok-ish, but again, with annoying, inconsistent characters who I didn’t care about.

Overall, the book was semi-entertaining, but also forgettable, mostly because I didn’t care about a single character.

rating: 5/10.

Audio Notes

Felicia Day’s audio book narration gets a solid 7/10, though her pronunciation of Sonja hurt my poor British ears.

Hearing a constantly drawn-out ‘Sown-yuh’ really grated on me, but I realise that’s a personal pet peeve and I can’t hold too much against her for that.

Otherwise, she read well, though struggled with some of the male voices (as most narrators do when voicing the opposite sex). Stephen Pacey is just about the only narrator I’ve found who’s truly mastered this.

I think a lot of the enjoyment of this will come down to which version of Sonja you want to read about.

Is red sonja: Consumed good and is it Worth reading?

If you can’t get enough of Red Sonja and have exhausted all other flame-haired media then the book will probably worth your time. If you’re looking for more action-oriented sword and sorcery there is far better out there.