The Chronicles of Conan, Volume 8: Brothers of the Blade and Other Stories

The Chronicles of Conan

by Roy Thomas, John Buscema

In a fantastic world filled with malevolent magicians and dangerous doppelgangers, one man pits his flesh, blood, and steel against an endless tide of enemies-natural and supernatural-that would seek to destroy him. That man is Conan! Whether he's going toe-to-toe against a lumbering beast or taking on a shipload of cut-throats and pirates, Conan's strength, cunning and iron will know no equal. Collecting issues #52-#60 of the original series.

• Presenting more of the celebrated Roy Thomas/John Buscema Conan the Barbarian run. All featuring completely remastered color; all proving once again why Conan is considered the greatest and most savage Fantasy characters of all time.

Genres: Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Adventure, Sword and Sorcery, Graphic Novels Comics, Action

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2005

About the author

Roy Thomas was the FIRST Editor-in-Chief at Marvel--After Stan Lee stepped down from the position. Roy is a longtime comic book writer and editor. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic Publishing, Marvel, and Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits the fanzine Alter Ego for Twomorrow's Publishing. He was Editor for Marvel comics from 1972-1974. He wrote for several titles at Marvel, such as Avengers, Thor, Invaders, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and notably Conan the Barbarian. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.

Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.

Reviews

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm actually really enjoying these Conan comics. More so than the first time I read them years ago. I still prefer the more serious Savage Sword comics that are more direct adaptations of the original tales, but Roy Thomas is having a lot of fun here expanded and exploring the Hyborian Age.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Conan volume. This volume introduces Belit, who was the first real long term female companion of Conan. Also, once again John Buscema's art is great, especially his women. His Belit makes a simple fur outfit look better than you'd ever think it could.

There's a good multi part story here dealing with warring gods, then Conan ends up at the start of his pirating career in Kush (Africa) and his meeting with Belit.

I have enjoyed the redone coloring of the previous volume, but it's always been a little "noticeable" in that you could tell the art had been recolored. This was the first volume where the coloring looked natural and completed the art much better than previous volumes.

The next few volumes will be the saga of Belit, which I can't wait to read.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 8th volume begins with a rather lengthy 4 parter seeing our hero and his young and acrobatic traveling partner Tara joining up with Murillo and his guardsmen soon to be joined by Yusef, who is the only member of a group that survives the devastation of a black shadow monster created when one of the guards puts on an evil magic ring. While the shadow creature consumes more men and horses growing to epic proportions, Conan, Tara and Yusef set out to find an answer towards defeating it. Thomas took a short Howard written fragment and developed this 4 parter basically around that. This storyline was okay, but Conan, to me, almost felt like an afterthought in the story with so many companions, characters, and creatures.
Then we get a Mike Ploog drawn issue which again was just okay, but as far as Conan all goes no one drew him better and more savage than Big John Buscema. Buscema returns for the last two stories in this trade and really knocks it out of the park beginning Howard's "Queen of the Black Coast" saga with Conan meeting and falling in love with Belit and joining the crew of the Tigress ship.
The gem of this whole book to me was the last story which was all Thomas entitled "The Ballad of Belit". Essentially Belit's origin told to Conan by her mentor, the old shaman N'Yaga. Great stuff from Thomas and spectacular art to go with it. Next to Conan, Belit is my favorite character and companion in the entire comic book series. I have always felt that the stories featuring her were easily among Thomas' best written and most intriguing.

[Ralph Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy the Conan comics.

[Zare · Rating 4 out of 5]

In volume 8 we follow Conan as he joins the mercenary troop on way to the city state to help it become a superpower. In this adventure Conan will come across ancient creatures and monsters, warlords, wizards and their creations, and, due to the unexpected peace treaty, will travel to the distant City of Argos folowing rumours of possible war between Argos and Stygia.

Here he will become member of the pirate crew led by mysterious Belit.

Art is beautiful, especially John Buscema's work. Again coloring is impeccable and truly brings to life entire panels.

As a story this volume marks the beginning of the long running ark where Conan will sail and raid side by side with Belit, Pirate Queen of the Black Coast.

I can only say I cannot wait for the new volume.

Highly recommended to all fans of Conan and generally sword-and-sorcery tales.

[Shannon Schmelzle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another volume of Dark Horse's Chronicles of Conan, another volume of Roy Thomas and John Buscema goodness.

This is fantastic. Thomas and Buscema have long hit there sweet spot for this book by this point. Here Thomas decide's Conan's time in the far east is over and now it's time to bring the character back west in time to meet up with his Pirate Queen.

This volume starts off witha fun four parter involving Murilo from 'Rogues in the House' and then ends with setting us up with Conan becoming a pirate.

I don't know what else to say here, if you are still reading this book, it's more of what you like. Keep reading.

[Jim Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. We finally meet Belit in this volume. She'll be around a while.

A couple of other side characters are introduced but then dismissed. I hope we meet Tara and Yusef again someday. They were sweet kids.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conan SMASH! :D Brilliant Review to Come! :D

[Al Capwned · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most boring volume so far and there are still so many to go. I hope they are at least more interesting.

[Robert Pickering · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff by Roy Thomas and Big John Buscema and the introduction if Belit to the comics!

[Quinton Baran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very good rendition of the Robert Howard stories of Conan, with quite a bit of interpretation to fill in the gaps. I especially liked the afterward where the writer discusses his processes, and how he went about writing each book.

I am adding this portion after a re-read (which also comes on reading many of the previous volumes in a fairly short period of time). I found these stories to be decent, but I slowed down reading them in the middle. The last few are the best, as they are preludes to, or part of the classic Queen of the Black Coast short story, by Robert E. Howard, which I have read a few times a well.

I find that the companions Conan acquires in the earlier stories don't quite sit well with me. They don't ruin the story, but I also feel they detracted a bit - Roy Thomas admits a bit a much, when he says that he was treading water with these stories.

[Marko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of original Marvel run of Conan stories introduced the story of Queen of the Black Coast. By far the best existing adaptation of this story, this collection is a worthy inclusion to one's library even if the early part is filled with pre-Belit stories.

Roy Thomas handles the story with a loving hand and Steve Buscema accompanies it with some of the best illustrations that you can find in Conan comics (outside of the best of them all: Savage Sword of Conan).

I read this adaptation side-by-side with the two other comic book adaptations and I still feel that Roy Thomas made it work the best. Read my thoughts here:

http://susimetsa.blogspot.fi/2015/03/...

[Timo · Rating 4 out of 5]

What huge violent fun was this and Belit made her entrance. Some great Buscema art but also some crappily inked Buscema art.
Nice one.