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The Chronicles of Conan
The Chronicles of Conan, Volume 4: The Song of Red Sonja and Other Stories
Né sur un champ de bataille,
forgé pour devenir un guerrier, destiné à être roi,
il chemine depuis les territoires du Nord,
offrant la mort à quiconque entrave sa route.
Il est depuis longtemps entré dans la légende et nul ne peut l'égaler.
Aventurier, pirate, barbare... Conan est son nom !
À l'aube des années 1970, Roy Thomas et Barry Windsor-Smith furent les premiers à oser adapter en bande dessinée les aventures du plus fougueux héros de l'écrivain Robert E. Howard.
Cette collection présente enfin ces épisodes mythiques, dans une version inédite, totalement restaurée et mise en couleurs.
forgé pour devenir un guerrier, destiné à être roi,
il chemine depuis les territoires du Nord,
offrant la mort à quiconque entrave sa route.
Il est depuis longtemps entré dans la légende et nul ne peut l'égaler.
Aventurier, pirate, barbare... Conan est son nom !
À l'aube des années 1970, Roy Thomas et Barry Windsor-Smith furent les premiers à oser adapter en bande dessinée les aventures du plus fougueux héros de l'écrivain Robert E. Howard.
Cette collection présente enfin ces épisodes mythiques, dans une version inédite, totalement restaurée et mise en couleurs.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
5 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Roy Thomas
4,479 books271 followersRoy 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 18, 2022
An unfortunate passing of the torch from Barry Windsor Smith to John Buscema does nothing to dampen the excitement this series brings. While Smith will be missed, Buscema’s art has a nice badass quality to it that fits the Barbarian to a T and he’ll just get better and better as his long run on the title progresses. The two Red Sonja issues collected here are some of my favorite comics and are the best Conan issues since the first volume.
February 2, 2020
This volume includes Conan the Barbarian 23 - 26 and the Savage Tales adaption of Howard's "Red Nails". Truth to tell, I was never enamored with the story line of Conan's time as a soldier fighting with Yezdigerd and all that jazz. I felt this story dragged and than Thomas adapts a non-Conan Howard story to fit in with this and it felt jagged to me and just not "Conan" enough for me though the best part was the introduction of the She-devil with a sword, Red Sonja.
Easily the best part of this volume was the amazing adaptation of Howard's "Red Nails" with fantastically detailed artwork by Barry Smith ( with additional help from Pablo Marcos ) and the best artwork, in my opinion, if not the best Howard Conan story ever. A story with pretty much everything and anything one would want in a Conan tale from a beautiful fighting female in Valeria to a giant lizard ( called a dragon in the story and some villainous antagonists along with a smattering of sorcery to boot. Last of all a whole lot of violence.
Stuck in between is John Buscema's first Conan work which I hate to say was rather underwhelming. According to Roy Thomas, Buscema never liked Chan's inks on his pencils, but I always felt that Buscema's pencils with Chan's inks were the best artwork on the Conan series bar none.
So although this collection was great with the addition of "Red Nails" I felt it suffered a bit with the klunky and sprawling Turanian war bit.
Easily the best part of this volume was the amazing adaptation of Howard's "Red Nails" with fantastically detailed artwork by Barry Smith ( with additional help from Pablo Marcos ) and the best artwork, in my opinion, if not the best Howard Conan story ever. A story with pretty much everything and anything one would want in a Conan tale from a beautiful fighting female in Valeria to a giant lizard ( called a dragon in the story and some villainous antagonists along with a smattering of sorcery to boot. Last of all a whole lot of violence.
Stuck in between is John Buscema's first Conan work which I hate to say was rather underwhelming. According to Roy Thomas, Buscema never liked Chan's inks on his pencils, but I always felt that Buscema's pencils with Chan's inks were the best artwork on the Conan series bar none.
So although this collection was great with the addition of "Red Nails" I felt it suffered a bit with the klunky and sprawling Turanian war bit.
March 15, 2018
A fine collection of tales, with the introduction of Red Sonja to the Conan book, a several issue long story (continued from volume 3), and an adaptation of Robert E. Howard's Red Nails to finish up the volume.
Two fine artists penciled this book, and I enjoyed both of their work. The essay at the end by Roy Thomas continues to be satisfying, and informative of the behind the scenes work of creating a comic, and the plans and ideas that made the book just read.
Two fine artists penciled this book, and I enjoyed both of their work. The essay at the end by Roy Thomas continues to be satisfying, and informative of the behind the scenes work of creating a comic, and the plans and ideas that made the book just read.
February 9, 2019
Another great Conan volume. I think this volume is the last to feature Barry Windsor-Smith but on the plus side we got the adaptation of Red Nails in full color. We also got the first appearance of Red Sonja. So while it's not good to see Smith leave, on the plus side John Buscema is coming onboard and I always thought his best work was on the Conan series. Marvel was a superhero company so it stands as a testament to this series that it was able to not only survive but thrive as a different genre.
January 27, 2010
Great tales of Conan and one of the few writers to ever get Conan right other than REH.
December 30, 2013
Great collection featuring the best work Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor Smith did together: Red Nails.
March 14, 2025
Volume 4 of these Dark Horse reprints bring us Red Sonja and John Buscema and a goodbye to Barry Windsor-Smith.
I have been pretty frank that Barry Windsor-Smith was never my favorite Conan artist. And reading the Roy Thomas retrospectives at the end of these trades has really helped me to figure out why.
His eye for detail was immaculate, but also didn't really fit with a monthly deadline. It created, what I think, is a very uneven tone to his art. Some pages being magnificent, and some pages clearly being whatever he had time to finish.
With all that said, I do like Barry's artwork, but I don't think I would like his Conan artwork nearly as much if it wasn't for these Dark Horse recolors. I think they really make his art seem more modern and I enjoy it more.
So the King is dead, long live the King.
John Buscema arrives on the title with a splash. He is, pound for pound, my absolute favorite Conan artist. Even one of the current Titan Comics Conan artists, De La Torre, while absolutely spectacular, is obviously drawing John Buscema's Conan.
As far as the story, this was a lot of fun. We get the end of the War of the Tarim and I love it. We get the introduction of Red Sonja into this book, and I love it. And finally we get a Thomas/Smith adaption of one of my favorite Conan stories, Red Nails, that is masterfully done.
Robert E Howard, from his personal writings, seemed to hold that civilization was an unnatural state for mankind who is fundamentally barbaric. And from his stories he seemed to think that Civilization can go one of two ways. One way is decadence where people become so removed from life they waste away, and that led to some good stories. Xuthal of the Dusk, I'm looking at you. Or an outside barbaric force comes in and takes down the civilization. And the pinnacle of those stories, is Red Nails. (Though if you ever read his "Hyborian Age" story/essay this concept is actually baked into the entire world of Conan past and future and is also a great read)
I have been pretty frank that Barry Windsor-Smith was never my favorite Conan artist. And reading the Roy Thomas retrospectives at the end of these trades has really helped me to figure out why.
His eye for detail was immaculate, but also didn't really fit with a monthly deadline. It created, what I think, is a very uneven tone to his art. Some pages being magnificent, and some pages clearly being whatever he had time to finish.
With all that said, I do like Barry's artwork, but I don't think I would like his Conan artwork nearly as much if it wasn't for these Dark Horse recolors. I think they really make his art seem more modern and I enjoy it more.
So the King is dead, long live the King.
John Buscema arrives on the title with a splash. He is, pound for pound, my absolute favorite Conan artist. Even one of the current Titan Comics Conan artists, De La Torre, while absolutely spectacular, is obviously drawing John Buscema's Conan.
As far as the story, this was a lot of fun. We get the end of the War of the Tarim and I love it. We get the introduction of Red Sonja into this book, and I love it. And finally we get a Thomas/Smith adaption of one of my favorite Conan stories, Red Nails, that is masterfully done.
Robert E Howard, from his personal writings, seemed to hold that civilization was an unnatural state for mankind who is fundamentally barbaric. And from his stories he seemed to think that Civilization can go one of two ways. One way is decadence where people become so removed from life they waste away, and that led to some good stories. Xuthal of the Dusk, I'm looking at you. Or an outside barbaric force comes in and takes down the civilization. And the pinnacle of those stories, is Red Nails. (Though if you ever read his "Hyborian Age" story/essay this concept is actually baked into the entire world of Conan past and future and is also a great read)
August 17, 2023
“All men die, Chumballa Bey. All men…and, it seems, all GODS.”
Absolutely ludicrous to think about how Conan the Barbarian got like multiple All-Timer issues within its first 50 issues. You’ve got Frost Giant’s Daughter, the Elric two-parter, and now the debut of Red Sonja and the Red Nails Savage Tales adaptation.
Like…I am hard bloody pressed to think of another comic that did that, that early.
And now with the added benefit of some strong damn John Buscema artwork too! It’s interesting to think about the world in which we would have lived in with a Buscema Conan the Barbarian (like Thomas himself said they would have “won a lot less awards and sold a lot more comic books”.) but it’s even more interesting the contrast between his and Barry Windsor-Smith’s styles and tones. I would have maybe enjoyed more of a sample size from JB, but these few dip ins in this volume are neat enough.
I hope I can continue these eventually. It’s so, so fascinating getting this deep of a look into the early days of this seminal of a book (and one that means a lot to me personally as a comic/pulp person).
Absolutely ludicrous to think about how Conan the Barbarian got like multiple All-Timer issues within its first 50 issues. You’ve got Frost Giant’s Daughter, the Elric two-parter, and now the debut of Red Sonja and the Red Nails Savage Tales adaptation.
Like…I am hard bloody pressed to think of another comic that did that, that early.
And now with the added benefit of some strong damn John Buscema artwork too! It’s interesting to think about the world in which we would have lived in with a Buscema Conan the Barbarian (like Thomas himself said they would have “won a lot less awards and sold a lot more comic books”.) but it’s even more interesting the contrast between his and Barry Windsor-Smith’s styles and tones. I would have maybe enjoyed more of a sample size from JB, but these few dip ins in this volume are neat enough.
I hope I can continue these eventually. It’s so, so fascinating getting this deep of a look into the early days of this seminal of a book (and one that means a lot to me personally as a comic/pulp person).
May 15, 2020
Probably the best volume to this point, this features the introduction of Red Sonja, wearing a slightly less stupid costume than she'd have in her own spin-off. It also features an OK adaptation of my favorite Conan story, Red Nails. There's some cool art. The wordiness swings from one extreme to another, with some sections letting the art tell the story, while other parts are jammed with captions and word balloons. This is the last volume I bought back when they were first coming out, and it's where I'm going to stop reading. Conan is one of my favorite characters. Robert E. Howard is one of my favorite writers. The idea of a great Conan comic based on Howard's work is very exciting. This ain't it. I really liked when Kurt Busiek started writing with Cary Nord doing art for Dark Horse Comics. Alas, Nord's work became inconsistent and Busiek left the line. After that, it slid back into this style of all-weather loincloth wearing silliness. Ah, well...
September 10, 2017
The Chronicles of Conan, Volume 4: The Song of Red Sonja and Other Stories Continues the plot from the previous book as well as introducing Red Sonya and Valeria we also get more world building! :D As ever The humour runs throughout with Conan showing up who is the real barbarian as every turn! :D Plots are set up particularly with Red Sonja and Valeria that are bound to have have comeback for Conan later in a rip cracking way! :D
The art is crisp and sharp and the recolouring is brilliant really making all the scenes pop! :D The artwork really conveys what the characters are feeling and really makes their expressions in scenes and the action be conveyed at a frenetic roller-coaster pace! :D
The Chronicles of Conan, Volume 4: The Song of Red Sonja and Other Stories is brilliant, funny, fast-paced and action-packed! :D Brilliant and highly recommended! :D
The art is crisp and sharp and the recolouring is brilliant really making all the scenes pop! :D The artwork really conveys what the characters are feeling and really makes their expressions in scenes and the action be conveyed at a frenetic roller-coaster pace! :D
The Chronicles of Conan, Volume 4: The Song of Red Sonja and Other Stories is brilliant, funny, fast-paced and action-packed! :D Brilliant and highly recommended! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2019
Yeah, I know. I'm aware of the many faults. But I just love this stuff.
This is the best volume so far. The stories have a little more of a message. Not incredibly deep or life changing, but some mild social statement.
Also, sword fights.
This is the best volume so far. The stories have a little more of a message. Not incredibly deep or life changing, but some mild social statement.
Also, sword fights.
January 25, 2019
Red Nails <3 One of the most best graphic tales of Conan ever.
April 26, 2019
It's good to see Red Sonja dressed somewhat practically and it's fun to read "Red Nails" whenever you get the chance.
Again the coloring is too dark, especially on "Red Nails."
Again the coloring is too dark, especially on "Red Nails."
November 2, 2023
This one contains Red Nails and that immediately makes it the best volume so far (despite the still awful recolouring).
February 28, 2013
Windsor-Smiths Meisterwerk
Ganz ehrlich - so ein Riesenfan von Barry Windsor-Smiths Conan war ich nie. Seine Gesichter, seine manchmal seltsame Anatomie, seine Jugendstil-Fixierung waren irgendwie immer interessant, aber passten nicht so wirklich zum Bild, das ich vom Cimmerier hatte, nachdem ich die Kurzgeschichten Howards gelesen hatte.
Er verlässt nun als Zeichner die Bühne, und macht Platz für den, der dem Barbaren sein wohl bekanntestes Gesicht gab: John Buscema. Über diesen einzigartigen Künstler muss ich nicht mehr sagen; für mich ist er DER Comiczeichner schlechthin, und er schafft es, jedem noch so schwachen Storybogen eine dichte Atmosphäre zu zaubern. In Kombination mit einem guten Tuscher, wie Ernie Chua, oder später Alfredo Alcala, definierte er so den Conan, wie wir ihn kennen.
Windsor-Smith lässt uns aber noch einen Happen von ihm da, und zwar einen, der jedem Comicfan das Wasser im Munde zusammenlaufen lässt: Seine Adaption von "Red Nails" gehört mit zum Besten, was der Fantasycomic überhaupt je hervorgebracht hat. Die Neukolorierung lässt dieses Werk in neuer Pracht erstrahlen und ist extrem spektakulär und sehenswert. Über ein Drittel des Bandes wird von dieser Geschichte eingenommen.
Die Reihe "Chronicles of Conan" hält ihren hohen Standard weiter durch: Dickes Papier, Hochglanzdruck, tolle Neukolorierung, fantastische Nachwörter von Roy Thomas.
Ganz ehrlich - so ein Riesenfan von Barry Windsor-Smiths Conan war ich nie. Seine Gesichter, seine manchmal seltsame Anatomie, seine Jugendstil-Fixierung waren irgendwie immer interessant, aber passten nicht so wirklich zum Bild, das ich vom Cimmerier hatte, nachdem ich die Kurzgeschichten Howards gelesen hatte.
Er verlässt nun als Zeichner die Bühne, und macht Platz für den, der dem Barbaren sein wohl bekanntestes Gesicht gab: John Buscema. Über diesen einzigartigen Künstler muss ich nicht mehr sagen; für mich ist er DER Comiczeichner schlechthin, und er schafft es, jedem noch so schwachen Storybogen eine dichte Atmosphäre zu zaubern. In Kombination mit einem guten Tuscher, wie Ernie Chua, oder später Alfredo Alcala, definierte er so den Conan, wie wir ihn kennen.
Windsor-Smith lässt uns aber noch einen Happen von ihm da, und zwar einen, der jedem Comicfan das Wasser im Munde zusammenlaufen lässt: Seine Adaption von "Red Nails" gehört mit zum Besten, was der Fantasycomic überhaupt je hervorgebracht hat. Die Neukolorierung lässt dieses Werk in neuer Pracht erstrahlen und ist extrem spektakulär und sehenswert. Über ein Drittel des Bandes wird von dieser Geschichte eingenommen.
Die Reihe "Chronicles of Conan" hält ihren hohen Standard weiter durch: Dickes Papier, Hochglanzdruck, tolle Neukolorierung, fantastische Nachwörter von Roy Thomas.
April 24, 2016
This is the fourth Dark Horse volume collecting Marvel's Conan series from 1970s and it includes issues #23–26 and "Red Nails" from Savage Tales. While Roy Thomas steadfastly pens the stories here, this volume marks the end Barry Windsor-Smith's run as artist on Conan. From issue #24, John Buscema took over the artistic reins, and while there is no doubt about the qualities Windsor-Smith brought to Conan, there is something about Buscema's sturdier barbarian that makes the latter version the one to pop up in my mind first.
The stories collected are the Windsor-Smith-pencilled "The Shadow of the Vulture" and "The Song of Red Sonja", which are followed by the Buscema-pencilled "The Mirrors of Kharam Akkad" and "The Hour of the Griffin".
The volume closes with Thomas and Windsor-Smith's adaptation of Howard's story "Red Nails", originally done for and published in the non-Code comic magazine Savage Tales after Windsor-Smith had handed over to Buscema. It is a fine piece and a worthy exit for BWS.
All in all, another warmly recommended volume!
The stories collected are the Windsor-Smith-pencilled "The Shadow of the Vulture" and "The Song of Red Sonja", which are followed by the Buscema-pencilled "The Mirrors of Kharam Akkad" and "The Hour of the Griffin".
The volume closes with Thomas and Windsor-Smith's adaptation of Howard's story "Red Nails", originally done for and published in the non-Code comic magazine Savage Tales after Windsor-Smith had handed over to Buscema. It is a fine piece and a worthy exit for BWS.
All in all, another warmly recommended volume!
June 7, 2011
Barry Windsor-Smith rocked my world with the Lifedeath story arc in Uncanny X-Men. Imagine my delight when I discovered this reprint volume of he and Roy Thomas’ adaptation of the Conan classic “Red Nails”. I had just discovered the original Howard stories through the Berkley editions of People of the Black Circle, Hour of the Dragon, and Red Nails all featuring fantastic Ken Kelly covers.
Here was a near word for word faithful adaptation of one of the greatest Conan stories, with pristine art and crackling pacing. When Dark Horse gained the licensing rights to the character and began reprinting the original Marvel Conan the Barbarian, Windsor-Smith’s artwork was re-colored and elevated to Masterpiece status. What little the color reprinted story lacked was made up for in spades in Vol. 4 or the reprints, plus it also features the first appearance of Red Sonja!
Here was a near word for word faithful adaptation of one of the greatest Conan stories, with pristine art and crackling pacing. When Dark Horse gained the licensing rights to the character and began reprinting the original Marvel Conan the Barbarian, Windsor-Smith’s artwork was re-colored and elevated to Masterpiece status. What little the color reprinted story lacked was made up for in spades in Vol. 4 or the reprints, plus it also features the first appearance of Red Sonja!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews