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Conan (2004) #0-50
The Colossal Conan
Finally, a collection gigantic enough for Conan the Cimmerian himself! This truly massive tome collects issues #0 through #50 of Dark Horse's original Conan series - from the definitive early work of Kurt Busiek, Cary Nord, and Dave Stewart through the famous collaborations of Timothy Truman, Tomas Giorello, and Jose Villarrubia. Follow the adventures of Robert E. Howard's barbarian warrior across haunted tundras and through perilous dungeons as he clashes with monsters, wizards, and still darker enemies. Also featuring a foreword by Busiek, an afterword by Truman, and all original cover illustrations, this hefty book is a must-have for any Conan devotee!
1264 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2013
9 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Busiek
1,859 books626 followersKurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 25, 2014
The product: The book itself is a beast. I don't usually give measurements of a book in my review but this one is about four inches wide if you measure the width of the spine. It's just over a foot tall. You won't be reading this one in the bathtub and probably not on the toilet either. I had mine propped open on the dining room table and then when reading late at night propped open with a pillow on each side in bed.
Both Marvel and DC have been printed omnibus collections of their works for several years now. Dark Horse does one better with their book. Sewn binding, thicker (higher quality) paper, larger pages to show of the art better, and numbered pages something we only see on occasion from other companies. The book mark ribbon was unnecessary for me but a fancy touch nonetheless.
The Content: The book contains 50 issues worth of story. At an issue a month you have years worth of published materials to read over in one book. Not a lot of extras, a foreword by Kurt Busiek, an afterword by Truman and some covers and some sketches. Much of the art is by Cary Nord and most of the coloring is done by Dave Stewart. While we do see some stories by other authors much the same tone is maintained thru out the book making it flow very well. While the time in Conan's life varies in some of the stories the way the reader is introduced to the stories works very well as a reluctant adviser to a king's son reads them to the prince. Clearly the adviser dislikes Conan and the prince loves him. We see stories from Conan's early life and much of his wondering with very little with him as King.
One thing I enjoy about old fantasy from the early 20th century is the allure of the ancient and unknown past where fantastic discoveries and mysteries were lost. This writing of Conan is very respectful to the original Conan works and we see hints of the mighty past here and there with at least one storyline (the Hyborrians) capturing the lost city type story very well.
This book does contain some scantily clad girls including a couple bare breasted illustrations.
A video review an acquaintance created helped me decide to try this one out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PE1rr...
Both Marvel and DC have been printed omnibus collections of their works for several years now. Dark Horse does one better with their book. Sewn binding, thicker (higher quality) paper, larger pages to show of the art better, and numbered pages something we only see on occasion from other companies. The book mark ribbon was unnecessary for me but a fancy touch nonetheless.
The Content: The book contains 50 issues worth of story. At an issue a month you have years worth of published materials to read over in one book. Not a lot of extras, a foreword by Kurt Busiek, an afterword by Truman and some covers and some sketches. Much of the art is by Cary Nord and most of the coloring is done by Dave Stewart. While we do see some stories by other authors much the same tone is maintained thru out the book making it flow very well. While the time in Conan's life varies in some of the stories the way the reader is introduced to the stories works very well as a reluctant adviser to a king's son reads them to the prince. Clearly the adviser dislikes Conan and the prince loves him. We see stories from Conan's early life and much of his wondering with very little with him as King.
One thing I enjoy about old fantasy from the early 20th century is the allure of the ancient and unknown past where fantastic discoveries and mysteries were lost. This writing of Conan is very respectful to the original Conan works and we see hints of the mighty past here and there with at least one storyline (the Hyborrians) capturing the lost city type story very well.
This book does contain some scantily clad girls including a couple bare breasted illustrations.
A video review an acquaintance created helped me decide to try this one out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PE1rr...
December 10, 2018
Now this is an omnibus!
I've been sitting on this book for over five years now, and the time finally seemed right to crack it open. Conan's profile is higher now than it has been since Dark Horse first started publishing him in the early 2000's, thanks to Marvel acquiring the license. Marvel will start publishing new and reprinted Conan material in January of 2019, and Dark Horse has been frantically milking the license for all it's worth in the last months of 2018, publishing collected edition after collected edition. So the time seemed ripe to finally sit down with this massive tome, and get my fill of barbarism.
THE COLOSSAL CONAN collects Dark Horse's inaugural Conan series in full, issues 0-50, and is quite an impressive omnibus, both physically and content-wise.
The series was a huge hit when it premiered, thanks to the pairing of superstar writer Kurt Busiek and hot artist Cary Nord, whose work was printed without inks, giving it a raw, unfinished look. Busiek has a brilliant hook on which to hang a Conan series, and it works wonderfully: The stories are framed by tales of a young Prince and his sinister advisor, who, hundreds of years after Conan's passing, find and read a series of scrolls that chronicle the life and times of King Conan of Aquilonia. Longtime fans of Conan might immediately suspect who this mysterious Wazir is, but Busiek teases the mystery along perfectly.
Dark Horse has created a perfect omnibus here, storywise. While Busiek leaves about halfway through the collection, he is ably replaced by the legendary Timothy Truman, who details the circumstances surrounding Busiek's departure in his excellent afterword. Busiek left on good terms, and worked with Truman and Dark Horse to ensure a seamless transition. Busiek's storylines play out the way that he intended, so we get a full, rich reading experience, and the collection has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Things get a little choppier and more episodic under Truman's reign, but that can easily be put off as The Prince reading The Nemedian Chronicles out of order. (There are a few issues that come out of left field, and feel like inventory stories published to avoid blown deadlines.)
There is some spectacular writing and artwork on display in this collection, by luminaries such as Kurt Busiek, Timothy Truman, Cary Nord, Mike Mignola, Thomas Yeates, Tom Mandrake, Tomas Giorello, Paul Lee, Tony Harris, Ladronn, Michael Wm. Kaluta, Rafael Kayanan, Joseph Michael Linsner, Fabian Nicieza, Eric Powell, Greg Ruth, Leinil Frances Yu, and Bruce Timm. This is, hands-down, the largest book that I own, at over 1,200 pages, and weighing in at a whopping thirteen pounds.
As always, Dark Horse continues their maddening trend of not including variant covers in their collections, and there is the curious omission of the 2006 Free Comic Book Day Conan story, "The Spear". The decision to not include that story is an especially curious one, considering that it was the first Conan story written by Timothy Truman, and the cover for it is included in the back of the book, as the one and only extra. It's hard to complain in an instance like this, though...for all I know, including any more pages might have been impossible, considering the fact that the book is over four inches thick. Dark Horse did not skimp on the paper stock, that's for sure, and the binding is extremely sturdy. As a completest, the missing variant covers and story do rankle....for $150.00, this should be THE final word on Dark Horse's original Conan series.
February 21, 2017
DAŞ GİBİ KİTAP, DAŞ GİBİ SERİ!
"Sen var ya sen, ilerdie böyle salya akıta akıta Conan okuyacaksın!" deseler şu an buraya yazamayacağım şeyler derdim açıkçası. Lakin pek güzeldi bu. Kitabın yaklaşık üçte ikisini genelde pelerinli takılan Kurt Busiek yazmış, aradaki kısacık(ve muazzam güzellikteki) Mike Mignola hikayesini saymazsak kalanı da Timoty Truman tarafından kaleme alınmış. Çizimlerde de büyük çoğunluk Cary Nord'un elinde ki hepsi pek bir muhteşem. Kapaklara bakmaya doyum olmuyor, herbiri wallpaper yapılır yani.
Hikayelerin bir kısmı özgün, bir kısmı da Robert E. Howard'ın eserlerinden adapte edilmiş. Timothy Truman'ın yazarlık koltuğunu oturduğu birkaç hikayede ufaktan sıkılsam da kitabın geneli harika.
Edisyon da muhteşem, kağıt kalitesi ve kalınlığı fevkalade. Kitap büyüklüğü ve ağırlığı göz önünde bulundurularak basılmış olduğundan ortalarda kitabın sırtı eğilip bükülme vesaire yapmıyor, düz zemin üzerinde en ufak bir ekstra çaba göstermeksizin rahatlıkla okunabiliyor. Cİlt 5,5 kilo falan yalnız. Neyse ben gidip bununla biraz ağırlık çalışayım...
"Sen var ya sen, ilerdie böyle salya akıta akıta Conan okuyacaksın!" deseler şu an buraya yazamayacağım şeyler derdim açıkçası. Lakin pek güzeldi bu. Kitabın yaklaşık üçte ikisini genelde pelerinli takılan Kurt Busiek yazmış, aradaki kısacık(ve muazzam güzellikteki) Mike Mignola hikayesini saymazsak kalanı da Timoty Truman tarafından kaleme alınmış. Çizimlerde de büyük çoğunluk Cary Nord'un elinde ki hepsi pek bir muhteşem. Kapaklara bakmaya doyum olmuyor, herbiri wallpaper yapılır yani.
Hikayelerin bir kısmı özgün, bir kısmı da Robert E. Howard'ın eserlerinden adapte edilmiş. Timothy Truman'ın yazarlık koltuğunu oturduğu birkaç hikayede ufaktan sıkılsam da kitabın geneli harika.
Edisyon da muhteşem, kağıt kalitesi ve kalınlığı fevkalade. Kitap büyüklüğü ve ağırlığı göz önünde bulundurularak basılmış olduğundan ortalarda kitabın sırtı eğilip bükülme vesaire yapmıyor, düz zemin üzerinde en ufak bir ekstra çaba göstermeksizin rahatlıkla okunabiliyor. Cİlt 5,5 kilo falan yalnız. Neyse ben gidip bununla biraz ağırlık çalışayım...
April 11, 2016
Como parte do meu mergulho na era hiboriana, através da leitura dos três volumes da Del Rey com todos os textos sobre Conan (incluindo rascunhos originais) do Robert E. Howard, comecei a ler paralelamente a coleção Conan (publicada no Brasil como Conan, o Cimério) da Dark Horse. A coleção, de 50 edições, foi responsável pela ressureição do personagem em 2004. Reunindo muitos talentos dos quadrinhos, essa ressureição foi iniciada por Kurt Busiek, um dos meus roteiristas favoritos, a partir de uma idéia simples: um retorno às origens do cimério como apresentado nas histórias originais de Robert E. Howard.
Usando a famosa cronologia Dark Storm (porque oficialmente Robert E. Howard não estabeleceu claramente a ordem das aventuras do cimério), Kurt Busiek adaptou as histórias originais e criou novas histórias mantendo-se o mais fiel possível a visão original. Ou seja, um presente para os fãs mais hardcore de Howard e uma oportunidade para novos leitores conhecerem uma versão mais profunda e interessante do que os clichês e pastiches espalhados pela visão pop do bárbaro.
Os 50 volumes são muito legais, cheios de sacadas geniais. Por exemplo, o famoso “Príncipe” que aparece nos prólogos das histórias originais (o famoso “Saiba, ó Príncipe…”) se transformou em um personagem que emoldura a contação das histórias. Esse Príncipe é acompanhado por um vizir que se assemelha muito com Toth-Amon, o feiticeiro de Set e um dos maiores inimigos de Conan. Esses pequenos detalhes aparecem por toda a série, e demonstram um grande respeito para com o material original de Howard.
A arte, em grande parte das histórias, ficou a cargo do fodásico Cary Nord, que canalisa Frazetta em cada quadrinho. As cores, uma espécie de pintura digital em cima de lápis também é um show a parte. Outros artistas também aparecem nas edições, como Tomás Giorello, Thomas Yeates, Greg Ruth, Eric Powell, Rafael Kayanan, Paul Lee, Leinil Francis Yu, Joseph Linsner, Ladrönn, Tony Harris e Paul Lee. E algumas edições são escritas por Tim Truman e Mike Mignola.
Greg Ruth é um espetáculo a parte, ilustrando o que considero a melhor sequência de histórias desses volumes: a saga “Born in the Battlefield”, onde Kurt Busiek detona com sua versão da infância, adolescência e juventude do Cimério. É o ponto alto de uma série de boas histórias.
Entre as adaptações dos contos originais, destaco a “Tower of the Elephant” (que tem páginas desenhadas pelo Kaluta!!!) e a “Rogues in the House”, super fiéis!
Fica a recomendação, as edições foram publicadas no Brasil pela Editora Mythos, e também podem ser adquiridas no original em inglês na Dark Horse Digital.
E como estou animado com essa nova versão do Conan, vou partir para as mini-séries publicadas pela Dark Horse nesse período, começando por The Book of Thoth, que conta a história de como um ladrãozinho de meia tigela de Stygia virou Thoth-Amon, o feiticeiro mais durão, massavéi, doidimais e maligno da era Hiboriana!
E vamo ler quadrinhos, porque ler quadrinhos é DOIDIMAIS! :D
Usando a famosa cronologia Dark Storm (porque oficialmente Robert E. Howard não estabeleceu claramente a ordem das aventuras do cimério), Kurt Busiek adaptou as histórias originais e criou novas histórias mantendo-se o mais fiel possível a visão original. Ou seja, um presente para os fãs mais hardcore de Howard e uma oportunidade para novos leitores conhecerem uma versão mais profunda e interessante do que os clichês e pastiches espalhados pela visão pop do bárbaro.
Os 50 volumes são muito legais, cheios de sacadas geniais. Por exemplo, o famoso “Príncipe” que aparece nos prólogos das histórias originais (o famoso “Saiba, ó Príncipe…”) se transformou em um personagem que emoldura a contação das histórias. Esse Príncipe é acompanhado por um vizir que se assemelha muito com Toth-Amon, o feiticeiro de Set e um dos maiores inimigos de Conan. Esses pequenos detalhes aparecem por toda a série, e demonstram um grande respeito para com o material original de Howard.
A arte, em grande parte das histórias, ficou a cargo do fodásico Cary Nord, que canalisa Frazetta em cada quadrinho. As cores, uma espécie de pintura digital em cima de lápis também é um show a parte. Outros artistas também aparecem nas edições, como Tomás Giorello, Thomas Yeates, Greg Ruth, Eric Powell, Rafael Kayanan, Paul Lee, Leinil Francis Yu, Joseph Linsner, Ladrönn, Tony Harris e Paul Lee. E algumas edições são escritas por Tim Truman e Mike Mignola.
Greg Ruth é um espetáculo a parte, ilustrando o que considero a melhor sequência de histórias desses volumes: a saga “Born in the Battlefield”, onde Kurt Busiek detona com sua versão da infância, adolescência e juventude do Cimério. É o ponto alto de uma série de boas histórias.
Entre as adaptações dos contos originais, destaco a “Tower of the Elephant” (que tem páginas desenhadas pelo Kaluta!!!) e a “Rogues in the House”, super fiéis!
Fica a recomendação, as edições foram publicadas no Brasil pela Editora Mythos, e também podem ser adquiridas no original em inglês na Dark Horse Digital.
E como estou animado com essa nova versão do Conan, vou partir para as mini-séries publicadas pela Dark Horse nesse período, começando por The Book of Thoth, que conta a história de como um ladrãozinho de meia tigela de Stygia virou Thoth-Amon, o feiticeiro mais durão, massavéi, doidimais e maligno da era Hiboriana!
E vamo ler quadrinhos, porque ler quadrinhos é DOIDIMAIS! :D
April 9, 2014
Wow…
That’s what you will say when this book comes at your door. Never a book has deserved its title more: Colossal, that’s what it is. 1200 pages of really great stories of Conan in an oversized monster of a book! The page stock is fantastic, really thick (take note Marvel), and the binding is sewn so you can lay this book flat.
I am still in the process of reading this book, but I am enjoying the stories so much I couldn’t help but reviewing it already. I am really loving Busiek’s run, and I find Nord’s art to be really great too. Before this reboot by Dark Horse in 2004, Conan was in a sad shape comic book wise. Kurt Busiek went back to the original stories from Howard (as he explains in the intro to Colossal Conan) and expanded them in a spectacular fashion.
The only drawback I found to this book (besides the fact that making it signed in conventions will be a huge pain) is that the first one I received had a binding issue with pages protruding (not stuck to the spine). I sent it back and got a great one after that, so no worries.
For around 75$ in comic book websites, this book is really a bargain.
That’s what you will say when this book comes at your door. Never a book has deserved its title more: Colossal, that’s what it is. 1200 pages of really great stories of Conan in an oversized monster of a book! The page stock is fantastic, really thick (take note Marvel), and the binding is sewn so you can lay this book flat.
I am still in the process of reading this book, but I am enjoying the stories so much I couldn’t help but reviewing it already. I am really loving Busiek’s run, and I find Nord’s art to be really great too. Before this reboot by Dark Horse in 2004, Conan was in a sad shape comic book wise. Kurt Busiek went back to the original stories from Howard (as he explains in the intro to Colossal Conan) and expanded them in a spectacular fashion.
The only drawback I found to this book (besides the fact that making it signed in conventions will be a huge pain) is that the first one I received had a binding issue with pages protruding (not stuck to the spine). I sent it back and got a great one after that, so no worries.
For around 75$ in comic book websites, this book is really a bargain.
February 23, 2020
Adventure? Excitement? A barbarian craves these things.
The first arc of Conan on Dark Horse is an extremely well-written and thought out series of high fantasy, mysticism, travel, and the power of history on the present.
My favorite aspect of this book is how it's not told from Conan's point of view but rather through historical documents and tales on scrolls set in the future within this world. We learn of Conan's brutal upbringing, mistakes, love, heists, revelry, battles, desire to travel and learn of the world he inhabits via a Prince and his advisor who are both reading about this fabled barbarian and king. The Prince is keen to learn lessons from Conan as he travels his father's kingdom but at times it seems his advisor is at odds with the Prince learning anything from the barbarian.
The book is full of scantily clad men and woman, creatures, ignorant tavern dwellers, different lands and cultures, magic, and violence and how they all affect Conan who does not seek to change the world but rather understand it. At times, he's confused and even furious about how different people live and what they value. Like us, we may not understand different cultures and may even scoff at certain ways of life and traditions, but there's a difference in not agreeing with them vs making them change to fit OUR way of living. Conan would rather make a comment and free himself from ways of life he doesn't agree with.
Great storytelling. Fantastic art. Glimpses into the future and path. Underlying philosophies of the nuances of the world mixed in with the aspects of life that bounds the world together. Definitely do not pass up Conan and I recommend you read the issues in this sequence rather than the chronological timeline in the paperback omnibuses.
The first arc of Conan on Dark Horse is an extremely well-written and thought out series of high fantasy, mysticism, travel, and the power of history on the present.
My favorite aspect of this book is how it's not told from Conan's point of view but rather through historical documents and tales on scrolls set in the future within this world. We learn of Conan's brutal upbringing, mistakes, love, heists, revelry, battles, desire to travel and learn of the world he inhabits via a Prince and his advisor who are both reading about this fabled barbarian and king. The Prince is keen to learn lessons from Conan as he travels his father's kingdom but at times it seems his advisor is at odds with the Prince learning anything from the barbarian.
The book is full of scantily clad men and woman, creatures, ignorant tavern dwellers, different lands and cultures, magic, and violence and how they all affect Conan who does not seek to change the world but rather understand it. At times, he's confused and even furious about how different people live and what they value. Like us, we may not understand different cultures and may even scoff at certain ways of life and traditions, but there's a difference in not agreeing with them vs making them change to fit OUR way of living. Conan would rather make a comment and free himself from ways of life he doesn't agree with.
Great storytelling. Fantastic art. Glimpses into the future and path. Underlying philosophies of the nuances of the world mixed in with the aspects of life that bounds the world together. Definitely do not pass up Conan and I recommend you read the issues in this sequence rather than the chronological timeline in the paperback omnibuses.
June 1, 2017
This was entertaining and well written. Sword and sorcery isn't my thing, but I still recognize the greatness of the material. I know a lot of people who say this is the definitive Conan run.
The build of this book is a thing of beauty. Big, thick pages and a sturdy sewn binding. Dark Horse did a wonderful job. Not to mention the sweet art under the dust jacket.
Unfortunately, this hardcover is long out of print. If you want to read this run your best bet is to pickup the paperbacks that are currently being released.
The build of this book is a thing of beauty. Big, thick pages and a sturdy sewn binding. Dark Horse did a wonderful job. Not to mention the sweet art under the dust jacket.
Unfortunately, this hardcover is long out of print. If you want to read this run your best bet is to pickup the paperbacks that are currently being released.
July 25, 2024
Every page has beautiful art rare in comic format. Every story brings something new, avoiding the frequent tropes of fantasy adaptations. The writing is captivating. One of the best comic book series I've read start to end.
August 19, 2025
Some of the best comics have to offer in the fantasy genre. Just fun as hell to read and stunning art all the way through.
January 26, 2015
One of the few books worth 5 stars!
That is a colossal edition indeed. The best stories are inside this huge collection by some of the best writers and illustrators. It contains #0-50 of the graphic novels and we can only make a brief comment on them, as they're varied...
One thing I liked a lot is the attempt of chronology in the life of the Bronze Giant; the stories follow one sombre vizir and a prince telling and collecting stories/legends of the Cimmerian Wolf.
I would say that "The Tower of the Elephant" and "The Hand of Nergal" are the best, but this collection is so nice that it goes without saying...
That is a colossal edition indeed. The best stories are inside this huge collection by some of the best writers and illustrators. It contains #0-50 of the graphic novels and we can only make a brief comment on them, as they're varied...
One thing I liked a lot is the attempt of chronology in the life of the Bronze Giant; the stories follow one sombre vizir and a prince telling and collecting stories/legends of the Cimmerian Wolf.
I would say that "The Tower of the Elephant" and "The Hand of Nergal" are the best, but this collection is so nice that it goes without saying...
September 5, 2015
Great book! A must for any die-hard Conan fan!
My only complain is that the COLOSSAL OMNIBUS presents the stories per comic number release instead of in a chronological order (as the TPB do). This changes a bit the flow of the narrative, and i really would prefer to have the story to go straight than to go back and forth.
My only complain is that the COLOSSAL OMNIBUS presents the stories per comic number release instead of in a chronological order (as the TPB do). This changes a bit the flow of the narrative, and i really would prefer to have the story to go straight than to go back and forth.
January 25, 2015
A gorgeous book collecting the first fifty issues of Dark Horse's "Conan" - for me, it doesn't get much better than this for a graphic novel collection. Sturdily made and high quality, an aficionado'a delight.
February 5, 2018
Víc než skvělé zavzpomínání na Conanovy příběhy, co jsem četl v dětství.
April 9, 2017
Konečně můžu říct, že mám tuhle ultra-mega-giga-kolosální bichli přečtenou. A i když se jedná "pouze" o obrázky a kusy textů, můžu říct, že tohle všechny komiksové a fantasy fandy nadchne a zabaví je to na hodiny a hodiny. Ta slast vpíjet se do všech políček a vychutnávat veškeré detaily je nepopsatelná. Největší TOP!
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