Jim Zub's Blog

After 20 days on the road, Stacy and I are finally home. A double round of D&D in a Castle in Newcastle and then the Thought Bubble comic festival in Harrogate was one heck of a marathon. I had a wonderful time, but I’m also worn out and need some serious downtime to reorganize and recharge.

Last November when I completed my first D&D in a Castle DMing adventure, I mentioned that I wasn’t sure if I would go back or not. It was an incredibly intense experience, 26 hours of gaming over 4 days plus being “on” even when you’re not running an adventure, and with my current workload and obligations I honestly didn’t know if I could carve out the time to do it again. I also feared that part of the joy might have come from the “newness” of it all and that if I did it again it wouldn’t have the same impact.

Stacy knew I was going to return to the castle before I did. Every time my friends or colleagues asked about how it went and I started regaling them with stories about the amazing people and adventure I ran she could see that it sparked something special in me.

So, wanting to see if that gaming magic was repeatable and also wanting to intensely playtest a new adventure I was cooking up, I signed up for two campaigns in a row – two weeks at the castle with two different groups going through the same adventure…well, “same” in the sense that major set pieces and enemies were reused, but a big part of the adventure was woven through character backstories given to me by the players, so each one ended up having around 30-40% different material and, even when something similar happened, the motivation behind it was quite different.

I’m happy to report that D&D in a Castle once again delivered the goods. Two very different groups, each with their own approach, but both were there to game up a storm and we had a blast!

Moments before Round 2 introductions, the Dungeon Masters gather.

The first group of six players skewed older, with most of them having started D&D with first edition the same way I did. They were, in the best way possible, “old school” gamers who wanted to dungeon delve and kick ass, laughing out of game even while their characters were enduring harrowing experiences in game. It reminded me a lot of gaming in high school, but with better focus and decidedly higher production values at the table. Friendships formed fast and everyone seemed comfortable right from the start. The one younger player in this group (who received this vacation as a high school graduation gift from his parents and came on his own) was ‘adopted’ by the whole crew and they made sure his experience was so fun that he ended up staying on for a second round at a different table.

Round 1 Group: Roark, Erik, Clint, Kevin, Chris #1, and Chris #2.

The second group of six had a decisive split – three players who skewed toward strategic play and three who were there to role-play scenes to the hilt. One of them had barely ever played any TTRPGs at all but had been at the castle last year, saw how much fun her husband had and wanted to be part of it this time. Two of the players were last minute additions when another Dungeon Master had to bow out, and thankfully they were solid additions to the team dynamic.

Round 2 Group: Dan, Roger, Kerry, Nina, Ashley, and James.

The adventure I put together, called Darklords’ Gambit, took place in the Ravenloft campaign setting. I kit-bashed some enemies, NPCs, items and locations from old sourcebooks and modules (while avoiding anything from Curse of Strahd, the most famous adventure in the setting) but made a new core plot that was all its own so players wouldn’t be able to guess what was coming next, even if they recognized some of the classic material.

Running the same adventure back-to-back meant I could immediately learn what worked (or didn’t) with the first group and lean into the strengths of it while also trying different beats and encounters. Finishing both playthroughs, I now have a solid adventure to use in the future if I ever want to run it again.

Last time I wrote about D&D in a Castle, I mentioned the concept of “emergent storytelling”, the unexpected narrative that forms through character choice alongside the randomness of dice rolls and I was able to test out ideas around promoting that again here in a much more deliberate way. Each character received a Tarokka card (the Ravenloft version of a tarot deck) and a few lines of horoscope-like verse I custom wrote based on their backstory that they received early in the adventure. Some of them immediately leaned into the ’prophecy’ they were given while others railed against it with all their might – either way, it helped drive storytelling at the table and kept them motivated even as they worked to unravel the overall mystery of the adventure.

Sneak peek at a couple Tarokka cards and poetic bits of prophecy.

Although I planned out quite a bit, I wasn’t afraid to improv as well. Some enemies became unexpected allies, some throwaway NPCs became important fixtures in the adventure, and many moments became surprisingly poignant based on a particularly strong or weak dice roll at the ‘right’ time. Eight hours of gaming per day is an intense narrative exercise that kept me on my toes, problem solving in real time while trying not to let players see too much of the duct tape and happy accidents that held it all together.

Last year I played a one-off game with Jason Azevedo and was impressed with the elaborate soundscapes he used to pull players into his game, but worried that setting up something similar would take a ridiculous amount of time and require me to act like a “DM DJ” at the table, constantly cueing up sound effects and music instead of paying attention to the game itself. Jason showed me how to use Syrinscape, an RPG-specific sound application, to build simple atmospheric sound loops I could tee up and fade between without needing a lot of babysitting. It’s not the kind of thing I would have thought to do for a home game, but the deluxe castle environment pushed me to work with it and I’m really happy I did. I don’t think I’ll ever go whole hog with specific battle/creature sounds and spell sound effects, but even just atmospheric sound running in the background helped to set scenes and make it clear to players that we were diving into each session after each break.

Some of my Syrinscape Custom Moods.

Being way more comfortable with the staff, location and overall format and heading to the castle before Thought Bubble meant I was way less stressed than last year (when I did MCM Expo London and multiple comic shop signings before slamming into Castle Days) and better able to appreciate how amazing everyone on the Castle team really is. There were eleven Dungeon Masters on hand each round with six players at their table, plus support staff and the actual castle-hotel staff as well – almost a hundred people in total (along with Poppet, the Castle Cat) all working and playing together. From the outside it might seem a bit outrageous but when you’re in the thick of it, the event is impressively all-encompassing and I can see why around a third of the players attending are repeat customers.

Stacy and I had a few nights in the Queen Anne Suite, which was pretty posh.

I didn’t want to commit myself to any 2026 Castle dates until I finished this experiment and that may mean I miss out entirely next year. The castle team has booked dates further out than before and most of their Fall 2026 calendar is already locked in, but with a bit of luck I’ll be back for another campaign at some point and, when I do, I’ll let all of you here know about it.

Reversing the order of operations this year by going to a comic event after a double dose of castle time meant that I arrived in Harrogate pretty wiped out, energy-wise. Thought Bubble was a great time and I got to meet a ton of UK friends and fans, but there were times when I thought I was going to fall asleep at the table as my energy level crashed. By Sunday night and festival wrap up, Stacy and I had dinner with old friends and then crawled into bed at the hotel, barely able to keep our eyes open until 9pm.

Thought Bubble’s Redshirt Hall.

That said, I signed a lot of comics over those two days and had wonderful conversations with established pros and young creators alike. Like TCAF, Thought Bubble is comics and creator-centric and that meant books and art were at the forefront of every interaction. It’s obvious why so many UK creators say it’s their favorite show of the year.

After Thought Bubble, Stacy and I took a train to London. Despite our overall exhaustion, we managed to see some engaging exhibits at the British Museum and had a couple good meals before heading to Heathrow airport and making the trek home.

Finally back in my studio, I have a ton of catching up to do but thankfully I don’t have any more trips planned for 2025. I burned hard attending so many events this year and have enjoyed almost all of them, but next year I need to be more careful about how filled up my calendar gets.

A Little Milestone Epic artwork from line artist Fernando Dagnino and colorist Diego Rodriguez.

While we were on our whirlwind UK adventures, Conan the Barbarian #26 arrived in comic shops and the response to the first part of The Conquering Crown has been amazing. Between rounds of D&D in a Castle I visited with Conan artist Doug Braithwaite and at Thought Bubble Doug, letterer Richard Starkings and I had a wonderful breakfast meet up. I know I keep saying it, but everyone involved is so proud of the work and motivated to deliver their best and it really does show through when we meet in person.

Issue 26 is also a little milestone for me. When I was writing Conan the Barbarian at Marvel my run ended at issue 25, so it feels extra-good to push past that barrier and keep sprinting onward, month after month. This is the kind of long run I’ve always wanted to create in comics and, despite the intensity of the monthly deadlines, I enjoy the process and the momentum. I know at some point it will come to an end, but for now it feels good to collaborate with such an incredible team and have it recognized by both readers and retailers.

Breakfast before Thought Bubble Day 2, with Richard Starkings and Doug Braithwaite.

Current + Upcoming Releases

Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set  – released Oct 7. Conan the Barbarian #25  – released Oct 8. Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC  – released Oct 21. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2  – released Oct 29. D&D Young Adventurer’s: The Warriors & Wizards Compendium – released Nov 4. Stranger Things-Dungeons & Dragons: Tales from the Table – released Nov 4. Conan the Barbarian #26  – released Nov 12. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #3  – releases Nov 26. Conan the Barbarian #27  – releases Dec 10. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #4  – releases Dec 31.Upcoming Appearances

My convention dates for early 2026 will be announced soon, but for this week I’m thankfully leaving this section empty.

Other Links

• The Writer Beware blog has a solid overview of the AI-generated spam emails being blasted out to authors, a series of phishing scams that claim they can point thousands of readers toward their titles. I get loads of these plaguing my inbox nowadays and they’re incredibly frustrating.

• The Steve Jackson Games reprint of the original Fighting Fantasy gamebooks did really well, so now they’re gearing up for the second set in the series.

• A conversation about old video games from my youth prompted me to look up a video of BARBARIAN from 1987. My brother and I had this game on our Commodore 64 and played the heck out of it. Imagine if I could have told young Zub what a barbaric future he had in store.
Jim

• 9 Panel Grid: “Conan continues to be spectacular. This issue is really setting up something that I’m really excited for because I want to see King Conan’s ascent.”

• Brother Lore: “I read through it so quickly because the pacing is so great, the writing is so engaging and there is the perfect balance between narration, exposition and action that it really doesn’t let you breathe for one minute.”

• Comic Book University: “The art in here is beautiful, fantastic…Great book. I’d highly recommend it.”

• Comic Culture: “Another amazing issue of Conan the Barbarian. If you need more reason to get this book, this is it right here…There’s layers and layers of drama, plotting, scheming and infiltrating. It’s all really compelling and very interesting.”

• Comical Opinions: 8.5/10 “The comic’s greatest strengths lie in its measured pacing, dialogue that immediately immerses, and art that makes every battle and brooding council scene visually memorable…a sword-slash of value for the discerning reader, balancing chaos, cunning, and a glimmer of wit in a battered bronze world.”

• Cool Thunder: 10/10 “At a time when many long-running series start to wane, Conan the Barbarian just keeps getting better. If you’re not reading this run, you’re missing one of the greatest modern interpretations of the Hyborian Age.”

• Eternal Crusader: “Zub has managed to cram a lot of plot into a mere 22 pages…The battle scenes in particular are well done, and Dagnino demonstrates how creatively he can use panels to support and strengthen the impact of his art. This comic book remains a visual treat for adult readers.”

• Goodreads: 10/10 “Zub’s tale in this issue easily echoes modern attitudes by those who have nested into their pampered positions of power…Good art from Fernando Dagnino to partner Zub’s eloquence.”

• Kabooooom!: 10/10 “It is rare that a comic so steeped in lore can prove to satisfy established fans yet be accessible to new readers as well. Conan The Barbarian #26 is such a rare treat. Violent and visceral, this is a perfect introduction to the world of one of most famous heroes of fantasy.”

• League of Comic Geeks: 10/10 “Probably my favorite art of the whole series so far and the writing was peak, per usual. I don’t know how Zub does it book after book.”

• Old Man Hyborian: “Overall, I really enjoyed this Zub story leading up to when Conan becomes king. This is actually one of my favorite stories so far…Overall, an excellent issue.”

• Pop Culture Philosophers: “Jim Zub has been writing the hell out of Conan. Whether it’s Conan the Barbarian or spearheading Savage Sword of Conan, these are some of the best comics out there of the modern era. I would encourage you to check them out.”

• Stygian Dogs: “…a strong cinematic start to this new saga. It’s a thoroughly satisfying read and an ideal jumping on point for new readers. It comes with my highest recommendation.”

• Thinking Critical: “Pick of the week and it’s starting to feel like Conan might be the front runner for best comic book series of 2025.”

It’s my first time attending THOUGHT BUBBLE, an independant comic festival in Harrogate, England on November 15-16, 2025. I’m really excited to be there and will be set up at

Redshirt Hall TABLE E-24

In addition to signing and sketching while I’m at my table, I’m also participating in the Artist Portfolio reviews happening from 11:00am to 2:00pm on Saturday. Like everyone participating, my time will be within that three hour block, but isn’t publicized ahead of time.

Lumley Castle at night.

Stacy and I are south of Newcastle (1) at Lumley Castle (2) in the midst of D&D in a Castle (3)! As I type this, I’m setting up my Dungeon Master area for my second campaign and guests will be arriving at Lumley in about ninety minutes, so it’s a bit of a scramble, but exciting as well.

The amazing staff are all zipping around, dropping off terrain, miniatures, or handouts we’ve requested, setting up mood lighting and testing speakers for music while I double check my adventure notes and get dressed up for opening ceremonies. Round one went really well so I’m feeling weirdly relaxed despite the chaos.

I’ll have a lot more to cover once the event is done, but if you want a sense of how it goes, check out my extensive newsletter rundown about it from last year.

Opening ceremonies at D&D in a Castle.

The Conquering Crown Begins Artwork from Conan the Barbarian #26 by Fernando Dagnino. Colors by Diego Rodriguez.

This week sees the release of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #26, part 1 of a 3-part epic we call The Conquering Crown, showing how Conan earns the crown of Aquilonia amongst political machinations, armed conflict, and rebellion. I’m excited for readers to dive into this War of the Roses-esque Hyborian tale.

Heroes Journey

On the CBR Heroes Journey Podcast, I spoke to Sean O’Connell and Sierra Nutkevitch all about breaking into comics, writing stories for iconic characters, research, theme, and Conan the Barbarian in prose, comics and movies. It’s a really fun chat, so check it out!

Rebel Rebel Anecdotes

I had such a wonderful chat with my old friend Mike Dargie on the RebelRebel podcast. We talk extensively about creativity and building a body of work.

“If we spent more time telling stories and listening to other people’s stories, the world would be a much better place. Because storytelling is knowledge and empathy. It’s joy and emotion. It’s how we understand the world, translate it and give it to other people.”

Current + Upcoming Releases

Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1  – released Sept 24. Predator: Black, White & Blood #3  – released Sept 24. Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set  – released Oct 7. Conan the Barbarian #25  – released Oct 8. Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC  – released Oct 21. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2  – released Oct 29. D&D Young Adventurer’s: The Warriors & Wizards Compendium – released Nov 4. Stranger Things-Dungeons & Dragons: Tales from the Table – released Nov 4. Conan the Barbarian #26  – released Nov 12. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #3  – releases Nov 26. Conan the Barbarian #27  – releases Dec 10. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #4  – releases Dec 31.Upcoming Appearances

My event schedule is finally slowing down as we move closer to the end of 2025.

Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UKNov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK

Other Links

No time for other links on this one – it’s almost time to play D&D!
Jim

The second part of Scourge of the Serpent, our snake-sent epic mini-series, arrived in stores last week. What did critics think of it? Let’s find out…

• 9 Panel Grid: “Gil is kind of like the next in line for the great Conan artists. I’ve been pleasantly surprised and arguably absolutely shocked at how consistent Conan has been, getting these really cool artists to take over the book, one after another…a really fun issue here. Definitely make sure you’re checking this out.”

• Amazon: 10/10 “A perfect fusion of Robert E. Howard themes, characters, eras and actual stories…in this issue in particular we have Ivan Gil demolishing my expectations by giving some of the coolest bloody action, unique angles and character poses suiting the danger of the situation.”

• Brother Lore: “It’s one of the best you can get today in the graphic novel or comic book medium…You don’t even have to be a Conan the Barbarian fan or fantasy fan. It’s just a very good action-packed read.”

• Comic Culture: “Gil’s artwork in here is extraordinary. We’ve got epic battle scenes, more modern looks and creepy crawly dungeons happening here too…Jim Zub is doing an incredible job curating the entire line at this point. I’m loving this book.”

• Comic Patrol: “It reads really well and it’s a lot of fun…It’s a really entertaining read.”

• Comical Opinions: 10/10 “Razor-sharp dialogue, sprawling action, serpentine twists, art that brawls right off the page, and a clever structure that never drops a thread. If every sword-and-sorcery comic swung with this much confidence, the genre would be king of comics.”

• Cool Thunder: 9.5/10 “Jim Zub continues to craft a phenomenal tale with endless imagination, while Ivan Gil’s art and Jao Canola’s colors make every panel burst with life.”

• Dennis Turner: “If you’re a Conan fan I really think this is going to be a must…Get it on your pull list.”

• Eternal Crusader: “Gil’s art speaks for itself. The impressive splash page of the ancient battle between Serpent Men and humankind alone justifies his place in Titan Comics’ already remarkable roster of talented artists.”

• Goodreads: 10/10 “It isn’t just a simple retelling of Howard’s events…The three chosen tales make for a good intermingling adventure as they all lean into a pulpy detective’s tale, all with dark and menacing reveals.”

• League of Comic Geeks: 8/10 “Outstanding blend of three stories across time to create a mystery worth reading…I enjoyed it quite a bit.”

• Old Man Hyborian: “I’m enjoying this mini-series by Jim Zub and liking how he’s weaving all the characters together through a common theme. Interested to see where Zub takes it and how he wraps up the story.”

• Pop Culture Philosophers: “Jim Zub is able to take what we expect and want from a Conan book and give us exactly that, but also make it fresh and exciting…It works so well and the art is great.”

• Stygian Dogs: “Ivan Gil continues to shine. It’s as if he’s reaching directly into my imagination, plucking imagery at will, then manifesting and augmenting it for the larger audience. It’s just great, and Jao Canola’s colors nail the nuance of setting and mood. Jim Zub’s measured yet faithful approach to Robert E. Howard’s original works build towards a crescendo, hinting that issue three will finally pull back the mask to reveal his full creative vision for this event series. And personally, I can’t wait.”

• Sword and Sorcery Book Club: “Ivan Gil’s artwork shines and it’s really phenomenal. I really like how he represents all these stories that are so classic.”

• Two Guys and a Stack of Comics: “What I’m really impressed with Zub is how he’s putting these timelines together seamlessly throughout the story…There’s some really good action and art in this as well.”

Conan the Barbarian #28 cover art by Gerardo Zaffino.

This week sees the release of CONAN: SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT #2, as Set’s grand plan coils its way across time (and I would post some interior art here, but almost every page is a story spoiler), but there’s also a lot to talk about in the flagship monthly series as we charge forth into year three.

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #26-28, arriving in stores from November 2025 to January 2026, is our seventh story arc and it’s called “The Conquering Crown”. These issues will show how our legendary Cimmerian earns the crown of Aquilonia and how it changes him forever. It’s a wartorn epic with clashing kingdoms, political intrigue, and armed conflict on a scale we haven’t shown in the series before, like Conan the Barbarian by way of Prince Valiant, and artist Fernando Dagnino and colorist Diego Rodriguez have gone above and beyond the call of duty illustrating it all.

Conan the Barbarian #26 interior art by Fernando Dagnino, colors by Diego Rodriguez.

If you thought we would rest on our laurels after our big celebratory issue #25, you were wrong.

A few fans have asked me why the Titan series jumps around the timeline instead of starting at the beginning of Conan’s journies and moving forward from there. Both Marvel and Dark Horse took a chronological approach (with occassional mini-series or specials that popped out of sequence), so I felt like that had been done before and done well. Our approach is more like the original Conan prose stories in Weird Tales magazine, with stories instead arriving in dramatic order.

Readers get information they need when they need it as we move back and forth through the Cimmerian’s legendary life. The team and I keep track of the timeline, locations and sequence of events, you just need to settle in and enjoy each tale as it unfolds across the Hyborian Age. Each story arc is its own entertaining adventure that also adds to a broader tapestry we’re slowly weaving. The more you read, the more you’ll see how it all fits together, thematically and symbolically. It’s a fun challenge for me and keeps each arc fresh for our whole creative team.

Comicon Talks Young Adventurer’s

Stacy, Andrew, and I spoke to Anton at Comicon.com all about the D&D Young Adventurer’s series and the upcoming Warriors & Wizards Compendium that arrives in stores on November 4th. It’s an inspiring and enjoyable chat as we talk about what makes tabletop gaming so special and how it brings people together and ignites their creativity.

Conan Panel from Dragon Con 2025

At Dragon Con I was on a spotlight panel called Conan the Barbarian Conquers Comics hosted by moderator David Sherman that Sean Korsgaard filmed in August and uploaded last week. The audio has some echo but there is a lot of info covered here, so if needed you can use the captions to follow along.

Howard House Update

In my previous newsletter, I mentioned the crowdfunding effort to repair the Robert E. Howard House in Crossplains, Texas, and the REH Foundation has a new video discussing how the damage was discovered and what needs to be done next, with Jeff Shanks, Paul Herman, and John Bullard.

Current + Upcoming Releases

Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1  – released Sept 24. Predator: Black, White & Blood #3  – released Sept 24. Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set  – released Oct 7. Conan the Barbarian #25  – released Oct 8. Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC  – released Oct 21. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2  – releases Oct 29. D&D Young Adventurer’s: The Warriors & Wizards Compendium – releases Nov 4. Stranger Things-Dungeons & Dragons: Tales from the Table – releases Nov 4. Conan the Barbarian #26  – releases Nov 12. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #3  – releases Nov 26. Conan the Barbarian #27  – releases Dec 10. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #4  – releases Dec 31.Upcoming Appearances

My event schedule is finally slowing down as we move closer to the end of 2025. Stacy and I fly to the UK later this week for our last trip of the year.

Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UKNov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK

Other Links

• Comic artist Steve Lieber has a list of Tips for Non-Artists on Writing Your First Comic that is well worth checking out. You can also see Steve’s comic art portfolio critique list in one of my earlier newsletters as well.

• Sean Illing interviews Cory Doctorow to talk about key moments in “Enshittification”, the way platforms corner key markets and then steadily become worse for its customer base once there are no other viable options.

• Seth Skorkowsky has a recent video about “Closed VS Open Roleplay” in tabletop gaming, with some good analysis and advice on how to make sure cool character elements find their way into game sessions.

• This interview with professional gamer/Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan shows how thoughtful and appreciative he is while riding out a surge of popularity. Three years ago I had the chance to play with Brennan during a charity stream, along with a slew of other incredible gamers who you will probably recognize if you’re into online TTRPG shows, (PART 1 and PART 2) and was blown away by how great he was, both in character and out.
Jim

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #28
Story – Jim Zub
Line Art – Fernando Dagnino
Colors – Diego Rodriguez
Letters – Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith
On Sale January 14, 2026

YEAR THREE OF THE TITAN/HEROIC CONAN LEGACY CONTINUES!
ALL-NEW CONAN STORY ARC CONCLUDES!

THE CONQUERING CROWN: The King of Aquilonia has gone mad, or so the rumors say. A tyrant sits upon the throne and all will suffer until he is deposed or dead. Conan the Mercenary cares nothing for these royal rumors and petty politics, but the Cimmerian’s skill in battle is about to put him in the path of a mad monarch, and his life will be forever changed.

COVER A: GERARDO ZAFFINO
COVER B: SWEENEY BOO
COVER C: SCOTT CAMPBELL
COVER D: GERARDO ZAFFINO FOIL TRADE
COVER E: GERARDO ZAFFINO VIRGIN

CONAN THE BARBARIAN VOL. 6: A NEST OF SERPENTS
Story – Jim Zub
Artist – Fernando Dagnino
On Sale January 7, 2026

The Great Serpent’s influence twists and turns, pulling Conan into their deadly coils as the Cimmerian and his allies are lured into Stygia…And what they find on this journey will make their blood run cold and set the stage for a conflict beyond their wildest imagination!

Collects – Conan the Barbarian #21-24

COVER REGULAR: DAN PANOSIAN
COVER DIRECT MARKET: GREG STAPLES

Dice o’ plenty at Gamehole.

Gamehole XII was an amazing tabletop convention cram-packed with good gaming and great friends. My only regret was that I wish it hadn’t kicked in right after New York Comic Con because I started things off already half-exhausted and the con crud I fought off ended up taking root in Stacy as we arrived in Madison, Wisconsin, knocking her flat for half the trip. Thankfully, she bravely powered through and ran her scheduled game on Saturday.

Even with those setbacks, it was a really good time. The games Stacy and I ran (Stacy with a new D&D adventure she created, and me with Shadowdark and Conan: The Hyborian Age scenarios) went really well and social time with some of my favorite people in tabletop gaming recharged my creative batteries even while we ran down our stamina with late night stories and celebratory libations.

Running games for strangers at conventions is an enjoyable challenge. In 2-3 hours we super charge a bond at the table, coming together to see how narrative choices and die rolls play out and make memories. Even when things go “all wrong” and a group ends up doomed, it can create unexpected comradery and, in fact, some of my favorite game sessions are ones where things go off the rails. It’s better to have a memorable gaming session than one that feels too straight forward without any surprises.

A few quick highlights from the weekend:
• Seeing Ben from Questing Beast on the showfloor, losing him in the crowd before I could tell him I liked his YouTube channel, then heading to my first game session and seeing him already there signed up to play my adventure.

• A player in my second Crucible game failing almost every single roll of the session, taking his Cleric through a tragi-comedy crisis of faith none of us could have foreseen.

• Michaël Croitō Ryū running a first edition Legends of the Five Ring scenario for a few of us after hours. My young Crab Clan warrior, dubbed the “Crab Rocket” by end of the session, brought a bit of chaos to the proceedings.

• Running my Conan game in the New Holland building, which heated up a lot in the midday sun – “As you traverse the desert, the sun looms large and its heat is stiffling and oppressive…which I’m sure all of us can empathize with right about now.”

• Late night chatter with Luke Gygax about the nature of the business and how thankful we are for all these opportunities while Once in a Lifetime by the Talking Heads played in the background – “Well, how did I get here?” indeed.

Now that Stacy and I are home, we need to rest up while hitting our next slate of writing deadlines before our big UK trip for D&D in a Castle and then Thought Bubble takes us to the well-earned finish line of Convention Season 2025. Wish us luck!

The Robert E. Howard Museum Needs Your Help

After over 110 years, the home of Robert E. Howard requires serious repairs: its foundation and piers are rotting and collapsing, there is termite damage to a large section of an outside wall, and many of the floors are starting to buckle and drop. While the hard-working folks of Project Pride in Cross Plains have restored and cared for the house since acquiring it back in the 1980s, their small volunteer army cannot address the extensive repairs that are needed. Professional restoration is required for this 100+ year old home on the National Historical Register, and it is needed now, before damage gets worse.

If REH’s work has left an impact on you over the decades, please consider donating to the cause-

You can help by heading HERE to the official website and making a donation. Current + Upcoming Releases

Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1  – released Sept 24. Predator: Black, White & Blood #3  – released Sept 24. Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set  – released Oct 7. Conan the Barbarian #25  – released Oct 8. Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC  – releases Oct 21. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2  – releases Oct 29. D&D Young Adventurer’s: The Warriors & Wizards Compendium – releases Nov 4. Stranger Things-Dungeons & Dragons: Tales from the Table – releases Nov 4. Conan the Barbarian #26  – releases Nov 12. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #3  – releases Nov 26. Conan the Barbarian #27  – releases Dec 10. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #4  – releases Dec 31.Upcoming Appearances

My event schedule is finally slowing down as we move closer to the end of the year.

Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UKNov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK

Other Links

• Game streamer and journalist Rob Weiland passed away just before Gamehole and there’s a fundraiser underway to help his family cover upcoming expenses. Please contribute if you can.

• Near Mint Condition has an extensive rundown of the Conan the Barbarian: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe hardcover that arrives in stores this week!

Jim

New York Comic Con is always intense.

New York Comic Con 2025 ripped through like a storm (though I managed to avoid the actual storm that hit Manhattan on Sunday evening) and I came through it dizzied but also energized. Since I wasn’t at the show last year, I felt a distinct upsurge in the number of people who stopped by to see me and I signed plenty of comics. I was only at the show three out of four days, but still felt like I’d been there for the full run by the time I got home and celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving with my family.

Yesterday I was completely wiped out and worried that Con Crud was going to take me down, but a couple deep sleeps and some herbal tea is helping me recover just in time to make the trek to Madison, Wisconsin for Gamehole this weekend.

A couple Conan sketches.

I didn’t have time to do as many sketches this year, but that was just the nature of the show – running around for meetings, signings, and other events.

Other quick highlights:
• Catching up with friends and industry peers on the showfloor and after hours, including planning for my next creator-owned comic series.

• Watching the Blue Jays wrap up their series against the Yankees at a New York bar, quietly enjoying a pint while the locals saw their playoff chances slip away into the night.

• Playing the victim during the Random House 80’s-themed Murder Mystery Party with a half-dozen authors and 70 fans coming together to try and solve my murder. They failed to catch the killer, but it was still a fun time for all involved.

• A late night karaoke session to celebrate Daniel Kibblesmith‘s birthday. Many souls were sacrificed on the altar of rock.

A slew of signed Conan the Barbarian #25’s

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #25 arrived the day before the convention began, so people were eager to check it out. The response to our milestone issue has been phenomenal, a testament to Alex Horley‘s stunning oil painted page art and hard work from everyone else on the team.

Conan the Barbarian #25 – Back to Press! Conan the Barbarian #25 – 2nd Print, cover art by Alex Horley.

Speaking of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #25, I just found out that less than a week after release the issue has SOLD OUT and is being rushed back for a second printing to meet reorder demand.

Make sure you get your order in with your favorite comic shop now. Issue #25 2nd print (with cover art by Alex Horley) will arrive in stores alongside Conan the Barbarian #26 on November 12th!

Talking With Holly Hughes

Holly Hughes wrote the essays material in the back of Glitterbomb, my Hollywood Horror series at Image back in 2016-2017. Now she has her own podcast and we chatted all about working in creative fields, collaboration, appreciation, mindset and more!

So Wizard on the Showfloor

At New York Comic Con I chatted with the So Wizard Podcast all about the convention, Conan, and more.

Current + Upcoming Releases

Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1  – released Sept 24. Predator: Black, White & Blood #3  – released Sept 24. Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set  – released Oct 7. Conan the Barbarian #25  – released Oct 8. Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC  – releases Oct 21. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2  – releases Oct 29. D&D Young Adventurer’s: The Warriors & Wizards Compendium – releases Nov 4. Stranger Things-Dungeons & Dragons: Tales from the Table – releases Nov 4. Conan the Barbarian #26  – releases Nov 12. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #3  – releases Nov 26. Conan the Barbarian #27  – releases Dec 10. Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #4  – releases Dec 31.Upcoming Appearances

Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USANov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UKNov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK

Other Links

• Javi has a great art tutorial all about shape visualization and execution, an important skill for taking drawing skills to a higher level.

• Matt Levin has another great comic culture and history video, this one detailing the history and massive influence of Jean Giraud Mœbius. I finally had a chance to meet Matt in person at New York Comic Con and let him know how sharp his videos have been.

Jim

Our extra-special 25th issue, a stand-alone King Conan story called “The Nomad” painted by Alex Horley, has finally been released. Let’s see what reviewers thought of this milestone:

• Amazon: 10/10 “Alex Horley knocked it clean out of the park, and for the first time I believe the art outshined the great writing, and that’s saying something! The history, setting and characters are all on point, the kingdom of Aquilonia is displayed in the most beautiful and intriguing display I’ve ever seen.”

• Brother Lore: “If there is a single issue that deserves a deluxe edition being published in an oversized hard cover, it is this one…You have to buy this comic book for yourselves. You will 100% enjoy it. Whether you are a Conan the Barbarian fan or just a comic book fan, a fantasy fan, a sword and sorcery fan, just go get it!””

• Casually Comics: “This is very much a labor of love and it shows – The art is absolutely gorgeous. The kind that warrants just taking a moment. It’s the kind of thing you want to sit with…It’s a good issue for those who have been reading the run or one that people could jump into.”

• Comic Book Club: “It’s just a great milestone comic to jump into even if you haven’t been reading the comic before because this does stand alone…The art is really spectacular.”

• Comic Book Corner 2.0: “This book is just a visual masterpiece, absolutely beautiful. It is gorgeous in every stretch of the imagination.”

• Comic Book Resources: “a tremendously entertaining visual treat…this comic is a real gift for any comic book fan.”

• Comic Book University: “I’m loving what I’m reading in here…I think it’s a fantastic thing that we get to have comics like this coming out on a very consistent basis.”

• Comic Culture: “This was absolutely incredible…an interesting story, action-packed story, but also from a visual point of view. So many great things happening inside here. Just knocking it out of the park yet again.”

• Comical Opinions: 10/10 “Alex Horley’s fully painted interiors are the star attraction. Total sensory overload in the best possible way. Every page bursts with color and energy, flipping between misty memory and present-day menace.”

• Conan Chronology: “a celebration of what keeps bringing us back to this Depression-era barbarian for a hundred years, and even of storytelling itself…If this were the last Conan issue from Jim Zub and Titan, it would be a fitting way to go out. But I’m so glad it’s not. Pick it up now!”

• Cool Thunder: 10/10 “an absolute masterclass in visual storytelling. Jim Zub delivers a phenomenal self-contained King Conan tale and it’s a total knockout! Every panel, oil-painted by Alex Horley, transforms the page into a living, breathing epic.”

• Eternal Crusader: “Each panel, every page is a unique love letter to Robert E. Howard, Conan, and the Hyborian Age…a triumphant comic book and a must-have for all Conan and comic-book fans.”

• Father and Son Comics: “It is absolutely gorgeous…I thought it was a really great twist and an iconic ending to the story.”

• Gaming Trend: 9.5/10 “this is a beautiful tribute to such a storied character. It feels as if Zub and Horley really put their all into this massive issue, and the result is nothing short of a testament worthy of Robert E. Howard’s legendary Barbarian.”

• Gary B the Casual Comic Guy: “Storytelling is an A++ and art A++. I am so thankful that this issue was not a letdown because I was looking forward to this for a while and it delivered. I thought it was absolutely one of the best issues in the series so far and I think it really adds quite a bit to the Conan lore.”

• Hyborian Reviews: “Zub’s writing is on a high level here, but the art is just a feast for the eyes!…Conan the Barbarian #25 really hit the right spots at the right time!”

• Kabooooom: 10/10 “Horley is recognized as one of the best in the business for a reason and seeing him depict such scenes as Conan’s battles with Thak the man-ape or the frost giants would be well worth the price of admission by itself.”

• Kara Dennison: “This story is a worthy anniversary installment, paying tribute to Conan’s history with every new panel. If you’re new to the saga, it’s an eye-popping way to start; if you’re a long-time fan, you’ll be delighted at just how deep the references go.”

• League of Comic Geeks: 10/10 “Actually speechless. I don’t know how they do it but this series just keeps getting better and better. The whole issue, all the way to every last detail, was perfect.”

• Nerd Initiative: 10/10 “Amazing stuff! Titan and Heroic Signatures just absolutely slaying the best with this awesome book, one of the best books on the shelf every single goddamn month…The interior art in this is breathtaking.”

• Old Man Hyborian: “A good, clever story by Jim Zub and stellar art by Alex Horely. An excellent start for year three at Titan Comics. This will be one for the ages.”

• Pop Culture Philosophers: “Alex Horley, who does this beautiful wraparound painted cover, does fully painted interiors on this book and it is absolutely freaking gorgeous…This was a great love letter to Conan and everything that came before Jim Zub took over this book and everything that may potentially happen after.”

• Stygian Dogs: “A standalone King Conan epic that’s got everything from heart pounding action to deep introspection…Zub’s tale explores the essence of what forms Conan’s immortality through the gift of tale and legend. Alex Horley’s art is flat out incredible. Every page is oil on canvas excellence that bursts with texture and intensity that elevates the dreamlike quality of the story’s more ethereal moments.”

• Sword and Sorcery Book Club: “It’s freaking phenomenal. I love this…Jim and Alex Horley knocked it out of the park.”

• Thinking Critical: “I love this one, it was great and a very gorgeous comic…It was a really good read. If you love Conan the Barbarian, you are definitely going to love this comic.”

• Two Guys and a Stack of Comics: “Without a doubt took the cake for Best Comic of the Week, maybe a challenger for best single issue of the year…This is truly what an anniversary issue should be.”