Who is Zula?
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Ah Zula. Truly, who are you?
Zula is one of those fascinating Conan characters who exists in multiple forms at once – male sorcerer in the comics, female warrior in the film, and now a reinvented presence in the latest Titan Conan Comics run.
In my opinion, that fluidity makes Zula a perfect symbol of how the Howard‑Verse keeps evolving without losing its core.
Zula in Conan the Destroyer (Grace Jones’ Warrior)
Most casual fans first meet Zula in Conan the Destroyer (1984), where Grace Jones plays a wild, spear‑wielding warrior.
At the start of the film, she is a captured bandit, tied to a stake and tormented by villagers until Princess Jehnna begs Conan to intervene.
Conan frees her, fights off the mob, and Zula pledges herself to his group.
On the quest to retrieve the Horn of Dagoth, Zula becomes both bodyguard and mentor to Jehnna, bluntly teaching the princess how to navigate men and danger.
In the final act she helps Conan and Akiro fight through Queen Taramis’ guards, hurls her spear to kill the treacherous Grand Vizier before he can sacrifice Jehnna, and attacks the awakened monster‑god Dagoth alongside Conan.
I think Jones’ physicality and presence give the film much of its energy – she feels like a pulp cover come to life.
Zula in Marvel’s Conan Comics
In the classic Marvel comics, Zula is very different: a male Darfarian warrior and sorcerer, last survivor of his tribe and sometimes trained in dark lore.
He first appears in Conan the Barbarian #84–90 during Conan’s time with Bêlit, joining the crew of the Tigress and later fighting alongside Conan in various arcs.
Zula is exceptionally strong, highly intelligent, and able to hold his own against Conan in single combat, at least briefly.
He also has limited magical ability – for example, using the Darkhold and mesmerism to create illusions or control enemies, and later mastering the sign of Jhebbal‑Sag to speak with beasts.
I like that Marvel’s Zula occupies a liminal space between warrior and sorcerer, something Howard rarely gave to his Black characters but which fits the broader pulp tradition.
He’s one of my favourite supporting characters in the Conan comics – see here for his backstory in the Conan the Barbarian #85 review. There is some stunning, and I do mean stunning, artwork included.
Zula in Animation and the Wider Franchise
The 1990s animated series Conan the Adventurer offers a further variation: Zula as Conan’s Black tribal prince ally, a beast‑talker and wielder of star‑metal weapons who helps lead a slave rebellion. He becomes Conan’s blood‑brother and regular companion, reinforcing that “loyal comrade” core no matter how the details change.
Across these versions, one trait remains constant – Zula is fiercely loyal once freed or helped by Conan, repaying that debt with unwavering support. In my view, that emotional through‑line matters more than whether the character is male, female, sorcerer or pure warrior.
Zula’s Return in Titan’s Conan Comics
Recently, writer Jim Zub and Titan Comics have begun weaving Zula back into the modern Conan the Barbarian series, leaning into the character’s multiplicity. Commentary around issues in the early 20s suggests Titan is exploring Zula’s “secret origins”, with nods to both the Marvel sorcerer and the Grace Jones film version – sometimes even playing with the idea of shifting forms and identities.
I actually really like this idea and thought it was very clever. I did see some people complaining on Reddit about Zula being changed from male to female – but they’d obviously forgotten the film!
Solicitations and previews hint at Zula Hendricks leading an elite unit known as the Jackals and crossing paths with Conan again as he battles the followers of Set and larger cosmic threats. I think this is a clever way to fold decades of media history into one living, in‑continuity character for the new era of Conan comics.
Want to know more about other characters in Conan’s lore who changed or evolved throughout book, film or comic? Check out Conan’s father, or Queen Taramis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zula a Robert E. Howard character?
No. Zula was created for the comics (by Roy Thomas and artists at Marvel) and later reimagined for the film and animation; Howard never wrote Zula into the original stories.
Why is Zula male in the comics but female in Conan the Destroyer?
The film reinvented Zula as a female warrior for Grace Jones, keeping the “last of the tribe” and loyal‑ally elements while dropping the sorcery. Later articles and modern comics treat the different versions as variations on the same core idea.
How does Zula appear in the new Titan Conan series?
Titan’s run teases Zula’s “secret origins” and future storylines, with hints that Zula may combine aspects of the Marvel sorcerer and the film warrior – including leading the Jackals and hunting Set’s followers alongside Conan.
