Conan the Barbarian, Vol. 2: Thrice Marked for Death

Conan the Barbarian (2023)

by Jim Zub, Doug Braithwaite (Illustrator), Diego Rodríguez (Colorist)

This book is perfect for fans of Robert E. Howard and his immortal creation, Conan the Barbarian. Filled with high adventure, savage combat and rollicking two fisted action!

In Conan, Howard forged not only a whole new genre – sword and sorcery, but also created a truly legendary character and a thousand pale imitators. After 90 years Conan still going strong! CROM!

After adventures on the high seas, CONAN returns to shore to find himself haunted by his memories of BELIT , captain of the Tigress and Queen of the Black Coast. Can a high-stakes heist draw him out of his tortured past, or will it plunge him deeper into the chaos that has always been waiting for him?

In this the second volume of the new Conan The Barbarian adventures writer Jim Zub teams up with the legendary artist Doug Braithwaite for a truly extraordinary and savage new tale.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

112 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 2024

About the author

Jim Zub is a writer, artist and art instructor based in Toronto, Canada. Over the past fifteen years he’s worked for a diverse array of publishing, movie and video game clients including Disney, Warner Bros., Capcom, Hasbro, Bandai-Namco and Mattel.

He juggles his time between being a freelance comic writer and Program Coordinator for Seneca College‘s award-winning Animation program.

Reviews

[Bill Riggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing, the writing and art are not up to par with the first volume. Also, Conan’s character while savage and violent seems off. This is a story of Conan as a thief and yet he is used only for brute muscle in the heists. No sly, sneaky, thievery skills are present. Hopefully this is not a sign that the series is declining, there is so much potential.

[Jim Ef · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.6/10
Conan's adventures continue as he joins a group in order to pull off a very difficult and dangerous heist.
If you liked the first volume, then you should like this one as well. We do have a different artist here. As i said i really liked De La Torre's work in the for volume. Braithwaite's art is different but necessarily worse.

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doug Braithwaite on art.

We jump ahead in Conan's career but the story still centers around the Black Stone from volume 1. Since most readers are familiar with the general outline of Conan's life at this point, its a cool way to tell a new unique story. Set after the death of Belit each chapter is framed with moments from Conan's time with Belit and his emotional struggles after her death.

Conan is back in Shadizar with a team of thieves. It feels more like the movie than most of the comics, with Conan actually having a close circle. Conan unwittingly is hired to steal the Black Stone and unleashes demonic forces lead by Thulsa Doom (but unlike the movie, this Doom is actually from Kull's time!)

[Jason Waltz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love, love the Belit reminisces and the things she triggers in Conan! Much of the art is decent, some cool, some meh, nothing poor. The ultimate evil threat is cool. The ongoing save-the-day magical interference of Brule is not. Once was okay, vaguely Kings of the Night-ish; this second time was not, was not Howard-ish at all. Even read Shanks' included essay, which is very good and informative. A blatant magical salvation is Epic Fantasy, not Sword and Sorcery.

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does not pull any punches. This is Conan at his violent best. It fully lives up to the mature rating not only for the violence but also for a bit of nudity as well as who Conan deals with. With a character like Conan, this is expected.

The one thing that sets this book apart is Conan's grief. I have read many comic and novel interpretations of the Bêlit story arc. I always felt that she was not just another woman from Conan's past. I mean the during that arc, the promise made was as close to a marriage as you can get. Here, I see Conan processing/hiding from his grief the only way he knows how, but it keeps coming back. This, I thought, was especially well done.

Even though there are a number of years between this book and volume one, I am very happy with the continuity and continuation of the story (or could it be a saga). I can't wait to see what happens next. The book finishes with a thumbnail varient cover gallery, including the combined covers.

[Mark Tallen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this second volume of Conan The Barbarian, from Heroic Signatures and Titan Comics. It reads (and looks) in a style that in my opinion is in the spirit of Robert E.Howard. The story is gritty and raw, it doesn't shy away from the brutality of the world the REH created, in order to apease editors and publishers who lack the guts to publish such tales in the modern era. I absolutely recommend the two volumes that I have read, and sincerely hope that the future volumes will maintain that 'Howard spirit'. I also like that at the end of these volumes, there is the section called 'Robert E.Howard and his ages undreamed of'. These are incredibly informative and excellent resource material for Howard fans, or people wishing to find out more about Howard and his work.
A well deserved 4 stars.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still reeling from the loss of Belit, his lover and pirate queen, Conan drinks himself stupid and takes on mindless jobs. Finally hired for a huge job, he and other thieves take it and work together. BUT... the treasure in the box is the Black Stone that Conan already knows can cause the worst. Fighting off wraiths is his concern now, but the spirits of the stone want a treasure of their own: Conan's body for a vessel! Doing horrible deeds for them and their master Thulsa Doom, our barbarian hero is able to fight off the spirits by stabbing himself through the chest... but will he survive?

This run is pretty good. Excited to see what happens next.
Recommend.

[Jim Kuenzli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Trade collects issues 5 through 8 in The Conan Comic Series by Heroic Signatures and Titan Comics. The writing is very strong in this volume. This really goes in depth with Conan’s “giant melancholy” of dealing with the loss of Belit. Great sword and sorcery! The artwork is savage. 5 stars!

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

We continue the ‘Black Stone’ arc from volume one, but further ahead in time. The Conan we get here is full of grief and rage, which results in the most bloodthirsty Conan so far with limbs being sliced off on almost every page.

The artist changed for these issues, which I’m not as big a fan of as I was the first volume, mainly for Conan’s portrayal, however the side characters and the spirits were very good.

There are plenty of horror elements in this volume, something which is touched upon by Jim Zub the back of the book where he references Howard’s original Conan stories and explains which ones were the inspiration for this particular story.

I look forward to reading volume three very soon!

[Zachary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't a fan of the art style shift in this volume. Also, the story was pretty depressing. Conan starts off already depressed and then the story piles on more tragedies. This wasn't as fun as the previous collection.

[Jim Reddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 2 collects issues 5-8 of Titan’s Conan the Barbarian comic. While haunted by memories of the pirate queen Bêlit, Conan joins a group of thieves for a heist. Of course things don’t go as planned. I'm a little disappointed that this volume ends on a cliffhanger, but Jim Zub continues to write a great Conan and the art by Doug Braithwaite is impressive, especially his splash pages.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked this even more than the first volume. The art continues to be great, and we get to see all the best parts of a Conan story. Blood, guts, sex and chaos.

[Paul Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrice Marked for Death checked every box for me as a comics reader. Lifelong fans of Conan the Barbarian will eat this story up, and newcomers will enjoy it, too. The writing, the art, and the colours were all fantastic. Sadly, the lettering did not grab me as much as it should have, but this is not a detriment, and hopefully, my review will showcase why. So grab a snack, sit back, and prepare for a wild adventure with Conan the Barbarian.

Jim Zub knocked it out of the ballpark with the writing for this volume. Having been a Conan fan for years, I went into this review with high expectations. Everything about this book was outstanding. Not having read Volume 1 could be seen as a hindrance. Thanks to Jim, I did not get lost, bogged down, or confused. He handles potential plot holes through careful narration and an engaging script. An outstanding job for Jim Zub all the way.

I’ve been a fan of Doug’s artwork since I was a kid. Anyone out there who is a Marvel fan should check out the Universe X and Paradise X comics. Doug understands the importance of providing readers with a rich visual landscape to enjoy, and this volume is no exception. The attention to detail is evident throughout the book. Any budding artists would do well to take notes when sitting down to enjoy Thrice Marked for Death, because Doug is one darn talented, artistic individual.

Diego did a dynamite job as the colourist—such a glorious and vibrant palette to bring the script and artwork to life. The choices of shading for the shadows and dark scenes were excellent, mainly when used in contrast to different aspects such as skin tone, clothing, or even outrageous ‘dream sequences’. Based on how much I enjoyed this SC, I will be checking out other work where Diego laid a keen colourists hand on things; count on it.

In past reviews, Richard Starkings’ contribution as a letterer has always been one of my favourites of the form. He has made a name for himself as one of the premier letters worldwide; the same goes for his Comicraft company. Unfortunately, this time, he falls short of the mark. I chalk this up because the lettering doesn’t add thrill or zest to the book this time. That is sad because it should have been epic, heroic, and thrilling, but instead, it was bland and left me feeling empty inside.

Conan is a character who continues to impact pop culture even decades after his creation by Robert E. Howard. Whether it is novels, movies, cartoons, or comic books, the world always wants more from this wild and legendary warrior. This latest instalment of the new comics from Jim Zub and company proves that whether it is the 1930's or the 2020's, fans will always welcome Conan with open arms. I encourage everyone to pick up Thrice Marked for Death and add it to your libraries.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

This second volume of Titan Comics' relaunch of Conan the Barbarian is fairly ho-hum, featuring a generic storyline of demonic possession and indifferent art by Doug Braithwaite. The standout is the cover image by Roberto De La Torre, the artist who illustrated the first volume in this series, which was actually quite good. Here's hoping we'll be seeing more of De La Torre's work in the near future!

[Pranay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Time is a thief. Heartless. Cruel. It steals our vibrant spirit to feed its endless march."

This is one of the most fantastic Conan tales. I think Jim Zub has come into his own where he uses characters from Conan's past and weaves them into this fascinating, intriguing current story. The art by Doug is beautiful and creates the hyborean age to perfection.

[Joel Jenkins]

Not sure what to make of this. The art is good; the story is moody and evocative, hearkening back to Conan's days with Belit while he is engaged in thieving in Shadizar. He and some compatriots from one of the Thieves Guilds rob the Temple of Bel of a magical black stone. One of the thieves touches it and unleashes evil spirits, which possess them one by one.

SPOILER BELOW:

Finally, Conan is possessed and goes on a murder spree, after which he appears to commit suicide, only to have a vision of Belit and a female Pictish warrior that we saw in the previous book. Conan appears to be struck by mystical lightning, and that is the end of the book.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overcoming a great loss, Conan participates in an ill-fated heist of the Temple of the God of Thieves. Possession is not a good way to end up.

Time is a thief.

The past is a weapon.

[Brian Rosenberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Conan the Barbarian, Thrice Marked for Death, TPB Vol.2
Titan Comics, collects issues 5-8

Conan and his companions in the Thieves Guild, the Glory Hounds – Chaundra the Chat, Greff, and Kamal, are tasked by Yakur with stealing back a stolen object, Tarim’s Touch. The stone is locked away in The Temple of Bel and guarded by archers. They manage to enter the temple disguised as Corpse-Bringers and the expected corpses, “human fuel for Bel’s many foul rituals.”

The group succeed in grabbing the stone when the spectral guardians materialize, “Forfeit your flesh.” The group pull through the ordeal.

Later after some pillow talk, Chaundra stabs Conan. She’s possessed! Conan survives and sets out for the Thieves Guild. The Guild is no more, the members are dead, killed by Kamal and Greff, now also possessed. The Barbarian dispatches Kamal and Greff only to become possessed himself. Bummer by Crom!

You think Conan is scary; possessed Conan is even scarier. The specters command Conan to find a Pict sword he formerly owned. A few corpses later, Conan finds the sword in a museum of relics and… stabs himself. I did not see that coming!

Best Quotes:

Belit – “Conan, do you fear the Gods?”
Conan – “I would not tread on their shadow.”

Conan – “At least these bastards know how to bleed.”

This volume includes a cover gallery. This is my first Conan book I’ve read under the Titan Comics banner and probably the bloodiest issues in my history of reading Conan comics, including the Marvel and Dark Horse runs. Also, probably the one with the most text, not quite a prose novel with artwork, but close. Nice art throughout. Interesting volume. We’ll see where the story goes.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dieser zweite Band nimmt sprichwörtlich kein Blatt vor den Mund. Das ist Conan in seiner gewalttätigsten Form. Hier wäre eine Altersempfehlung angebracht, nicht nur wegen der ausufernden Gewalt, sondern auch wegen der Nacktheit und der Personen, mit denen Conan zu tun hat, wobei man bei einer Figur wie Conan nichts anderes erwartet.

Der Schreibstil ist in diesem Band ebenfalls grandios und geht in die Tiefe mit Conans Melancholie im Umgang mit dem Verlust von Belit. Ich habe einige Interpretationen des Bêlit-Handlungsbogens bereits gelesen und hatte immer das Gefühl, dass sie definitiv keine namenlose Frau aus Conans Vergangenheit war, sondern dass das Versprechen, das ihr während dieses Handlungsbogens gegeben wurde, einer Ehe so nahe kam, wie es für Conan nur möglich ist. Es ist eine Freude zuzusehen, wie Conan seinen Kummer auf die einzige Art und Weise, die er kennt, verarbeitet und auch verdrängt, und das hat Jim Zub hier meiner Meinung nach besonders gut hervorgehoben.

Conan verschafft einer Gruppe Diebe Ablenkung, diese sollen für viele Goldkronen ein Artefakt aus einem Tempel stehlen, der unermessliche Macht für seinen Besitzer bedeutet. Doch damit werden übernatürliche Mächte befreit, die auch vor Conan nicht Halt machen und er in die Fänge Thulsa Dooms gerät.
Fazit: Wenn Conan draufsteht, kann man davon ausgehen, dass man auch - bei Crom - Conan bekommt. Klare Leseempfehlung!

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows directly the previous one but can be read independently. There are some hints and notes that x or y stuff were handled in previous novels.

Conan is tasked to capture a part of black stone and of course he did (he didn't knew that was the goal). After getting the stone things start happening. Memories of Belit and we see a transformed Conan doing animalistic things like murdering innocent people (in the last book). in the last story there are some connections to book 4 (which was included on volume 1 published by Titan). I enjoyed the transformation of Conan but overall it was a bit slower and less interesting than the first one. 3/5

[Jason Paré · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comme c'est souvent le cas avec les comics book, les illustrateurs changent en cours de route. Malheureusement, ici, c'est au détriment de ce qui était plaisant dans les premiers numéros. Ainsi, le look rétro et le trait efficace des illustrations de De La Torre sont remplacées ici par un style plus fade et générique. Souhaitons que la suite soit mise en images par quelqu'un d'autre que Braithwaite. Pour l'histoire, rien de transcendant, mais le climax est suffisamment percutant pour nous donner envie de poursuivre l'aventure.

[The Geeky Viking · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's early days but Jim Zub's run is shaping up to be on par with that of legendary Conan writer Roy Thomas. This second volume is just as good as the first, although the artwork does take a step back slightly. Doug Braithwait's Conan is good, but he pales in comparison to Robert Del Torre, who steps back for this arc. Still, this is absolutely one of the best books on the market at the moment and it's a must-have for Conan fans. Highly recommended!

[Brendon Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Zub really knocked it out of the part with the prose in this comic run. The art was also amazing. I quite like that the story dealt with a supernatural threat, it's fun seeing Conan facing off against those kinds of horrors. The essays at the end are always a good read. I am happy that they enlarged the cover gallery as well. It was far too small in the first volume. Making it bigger was a good call.
I loved this one!

[Alex Sarll]

This builds directly on the story of Bound In Black Stone, though years down the line, but didn't hit nearly so well for me. Partly it's Braithwaite's art, which I would have expected to be a better fit than it here seems; partly it's the decision to play Conan's gigantic melancholies as PTSD, such that he feels like he's barely in the story even before...well, spoilers. Still, I'll read at least one more volume, because I've already got it out of the library.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was better than volume 1. Zub has toned down the narration some, although I'd like to see more go to the wayside. Doug Braithwaite was made to draw Conan comics. His art here is terrific. The story goes in a way I didn't expect either, after Conan finds this cursed item. I'm curious now to see where this heads.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slight step down from the first volume, but this is still a high-quality Conan series, about on-par with the Marvel series from a couple of years ago. One aspect I really appreciate are the short essays at the end of each issue that cover some of the connections that Robert E. Howard's writings have with other contemporary pulp writers.

[Peter Melancon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm happy to say the second volume of Conan did not disappoint. Not telling the story of Belit but after Conan was a pirate could be risky but adding the story of the Blackstone and recounts of his time with Belit is awesome. Once again the artwork is amazing and I look forward to reading the next couple of volumes!

[Riccardo Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zub has breathed new life into the world and the character. The way he told this story, how he wove in other REH characters and made it all make sense to hole going full circle on one of the great villains was visionary

[Sohrab Rezvan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Zub writes Conan so well. The story uses flashbacks to draw comparisons between Conan's past quests (and losses) to this current situation. I look forward to picking up these TPBs as they come out.

[Shannon Schmelzle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this one quite as well as volume 1, but it was still pretty good.

Continuing the whole "black stone" storyline in a different place and time then from volume 1. As much as I do like the artist here, it is a step down from the artist from the first volume.