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Conan the Barbarian (2023) (Single Issues)
Conan the Barbarian (2023-) #16
After leaving Cimmeria filled with wanderlust, a young Conan heads north in search of glory.
What he finds in that cold climate will change his outlook forever, setting him on the path that will make him a legend.
The triumphant new era of Conan continues in this tale of brutal heroic adventure from acclaimed writers Jim Zub (Avengers, Dungeons & Dragons) and Doug Braithwaite (Punisher, Justice).
What he finds in that cold climate will change his outlook forever, setting him on the path that will make him a legend.
The triumphant new era of Conan continues in this tale of brutal heroic adventure from acclaimed writers Jim Zub (Avengers, Dungeons & Dragons) and Doug Braithwaite (Punisher, Justice).
- GenresFantasyComicsComic Book
Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2024
5 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Jim Zub
918 books323 followersJim 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.
He juggles his time between being a freelance comic writer and Program Coordinator for Seneca College‘s award-winning Animation program.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 25, 2024
Poignant and reverent capstone to a great arc.
The greatest Conan stories ever written are typically marked by a crescendo of action, leading to mighty victory. Though this does not lack for action, the storytelling is just as powerful, if not moreso than the standard Conan fare, but for different reasons. Every issue thus far has been respectful of Howard's world and characters, and this captures another dimension to Conan that people often forget. He isn't just a dumb brute, but a master strategist, cunning thief, and compassionate lover. This also may be blasphemous but Conan is less relatable a character than an aspirational one. Most of us are nothing like him, and obviously don't want to pick up his vicious, dark qualities, but we read these stories to feel like we can be powerful, with inner if not outer strength, with the will to continue on with little to any motivating factors, and a feeling like we don't need to belong in places that are foreign to us to still rise to every occasion with success. I digress--
What I greatly admire about Jim Zub is his understanding of the many stages of Conan's life, and how different (sometimes subtle) he can be in each stage, while still being mostly the same hero/antihero we know and love.
It takes a lot of maturity to approach this subdued storytelling in a story most people think is just hacking and slashing (which is great in and of itself), and by the end of this issue I was truly sold that this is just like the legendary sword and sorcery tales of old. The likes of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser by Fritz Leiber, Moorcock's Elric, Karl Edward Wagner's Kane, all bring many dimensions of character and depth of storytelling that Zub is keying into here with artist Doug Braithwaite.
Shoutout to Doug who has a special lens into this universe that emphasizes believable human emotion, drama and thrills alike. His art and Zub's writing go hand in hand. I've said it before but having two different styles of artists has suited these stories well by showing two different kinds of epic heroism and adventure on the page.
With this issue we have a poignant, reverent look into the Conan's origin, his perception of powers beyond the natural world, and an emotionally stirring resolution to this chapter of his life, while bravely looking forward to the next.
I want to also say I'm impressed by the recent interview by Zub and Braithwaite where the pair spoke about bringing Ymir and Crom to the page, and I was impressed by their sensibility and "less is more" approach, where showing Crom and Ymir in human or superhuman forms can be limiting and take away power or impact from their respective reveals, as gods should be more than that. Using natural occurrences like lightning, quakes, wind, etc., can be far more mysterious and profound.
Bring on more, I haven't read a single issue yet that hasn't been a resounding success in terms of bringing Conan to life just like in the days of old, the way Howard did, the way Frazetta, the way Thomas did. That's all I ever wanted, and I hope others get to enjoy it as much as I do.
10/10, my review keeps showing 4 of 5 but that isn't right.
The greatest Conan stories ever written are typically marked by a crescendo of action, leading to mighty victory. Though this does not lack for action, the storytelling is just as powerful, if not moreso than the standard Conan fare, but for different reasons. Every issue thus far has been respectful of Howard's world and characters, and this captures another dimension to Conan that people often forget. He isn't just a dumb brute, but a master strategist, cunning thief, and compassionate lover. This also may be blasphemous but Conan is less relatable a character than an aspirational one. Most of us are nothing like him, and obviously don't want to pick up his vicious, dark qualities, but we read these stories to feel like we can be powerful, with inner if not outer strength, with the will to continue on with little to any motivating factors, and a feeling like we don't need to belong in places that are foreign to us to still rise to every occasion with success. I digress--
What I greatly admire about Jim Zub is his understanding of the many stages of Conan's life, and how different (sometimes subtle) he can be in each stage, while still being mostly the same hero/antihero we know and love.
It takes a lot of maturity to approach this subdued storytelling in a story most people think is just hacking and slashing (which is great in and of itself), and by the end of this issue I was truly sold that this is just like the legendary sword and sorcery tales of old. The likes of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser by Fritz Leiber, Moorcock's Elric, Karl Edward Wagner's Kane, all bring many dimensions of character and depth of storytelling that Zub is keying into here with artist Doug Braithwaite.
Shoutout to Doug who has a special lens into this universe that emphasizes believable human emotion, drama and thrills alike. His art and Zub's writing go hand in hand. I've said it before but having two different styles of artists has suited these stories well by showing two different kinds of epic heroism and adventure on the page.
With this issue we have a poignant, reverent look into the Conan's origin, his perception of powers beyond the natural world, and an emotionally stirring resolution to this chapter of his life, while bravely looking forward to the next.
I want to also say I'm impressed by the recent interview by Zub and Braithwaite where the pair spoke about bringing Ymir and Crom to the page, and I was impressed by their sensibility and "less is more" approach, where showing Crom and Ymir in human or superhuman forms can be limiting and take away power or impact from their respective reveals, as gods should be more than that. Using natural occurrences like lightning, quakes, wind, etc., can be far more mysterious and profound.
Bring on more, I haven't read a single issue yet that hasn't been a resounding success in terms of bringing Conan to life just like in the days of old, the way Howard did, the way Frazetta, the way Thomas did. That's all I ever wanted, and I hope others get to enjoy it as much as I do.
10/10, my review keeps showing 4 of 5 but that isn't right.
October 23, 2024
A Continuation
This is a continuation of the aftermath of Conan's brush with the frost giant's daughter with some flashbacks to Conan's childhood and begins to set the tone for how Conan believes in the Gods in his era.
The art and story are both very well done, it was different getting the story from the frost giant's daughter point of view and to follow the aftermath.
Definitely recommended.
This is a continuation of the aftermath of Conan's brush with the frost giant's daughter with some flashbacks to Conan's childhood and begins to set the tone for how Conan believes in the Gods in his era.
The art and story are both very well done, it was different getting the story from the frost giant's daughter point of view and to follow the aftermath.
Definitely recommended.
October 27, 2024
"Frozen Faith, Part 4: The Hidden World", November 2024
"... and, at this moment, one such spartan query stands tall over all others ... what do you believe?"
During the Dark Horse Conan run, I found that I don't like excursions into Cimmeria nor Conan's childhood. Leave it to Jim Zub to take me back and enjoy it. There's a degree of fiery passion here that rivals any love story, within the span of one page. Great art. As a Christian, I appreciate questions into God's existence, or into His will. I fault no sincerity in disbelief, and am glad to be able to say from my end: "Belief gives me hope. Belief makes me stronger."
Things get unpleasant in this world (ours and Hyboria), maybe due to Crom's ordering of steps, maybe due to Crom's devils underfoot, but it's just how it is, and Conan may learn, in his youth, that Crom gave him the will to face it. Stone-sent, Crom's mountain children may seem grounded more than most, even when they aren't sure Crom even exists. Even so, jealousy is unbecoming, and drunken bravado is no reason to try to move a mountain with sucker punches. "Words are cheap. Back them up or back down."
- Conan (Cimmerian)
- Conan's blacksmith father (Cimmerian)
- Lihamm (Cimmerian)
- Berg (Aesir)
- Gorm (Aesir)
- Osmin (Aesir)
Frozen Faith
Part 1 of 4: Cold Comfort
Part 2 of 4: Daughter's Gaze
Part 3 of 4: Gods of the North
Part 4 of 4: The Hidden World
"... and, at this moment, one such spartan query stands tall over all others ... what do you believe?"
During the Dark Horse Conan run, I found that I don't like excursions into Cimmeria nor Conan's childhood. Leave it to Jim Zub to take me back and enjoy it. There's a degree of fiery passion here that rivals any love story, within the span of one page. Great art. As a Christian, I appreciate questions into God's existence, or into His will. I fault no sincerity in disbelief, and am glad to be able to say from my end: "Belief gives me hope. Belief makes me stronger."
Things get unpleasant in this world (ours and Hyboria), maybe due to Crom's ordering of steps, maybe due to Crom's devils underfoot, but it's just how it is, and Conan may learn, in his youth, that Crom gave him the will to face it. Stone-sent, Crom's mountain children may seem grounded more than most, even when they aren't sure Crom even exists. Even so, jealousy is unbecoming, and drunken bravado is no reason to try to move a mountain with sucker punches. "Words are cheap. Back them up or back down."
- Conan (Cimmerian)
- Conan's blacksmith father (Cimmerian)
- Lihamm (Cimmerian)
- Berg (Aesir)
- Gorm (Aesir)
- Osmin (Aesir)
Frozen Faith
Part 1 of 4: Cold Comfort
Part 2 of 4: Daughter's Gaze
Part 3 of 4: Gods of the North
Part 4 of 4: The Hidden World
December 30, 2024
I read the print copy of this comic. Part IV of the Frozen Faith story arc, the denouement of the storyline. I think this is the weakest issue of this story arc. Conan is again introspective after his encounter with Atali. But this experience leads to a resolution of Conan’s mind about his philosophy of life after enduring an existential crisis. I just don’t buy Conan engaging in such lofty introspective doubt, although the ultimate resolution as Zub portrays it is suitable to what we know of Conan. But overall, there are many things I liked about this story arc including the lone wanderer of the woods in the first issue, how Conan comes to join an Aesir warband, the “Gods of the North” adaptation, and in this issue, how Conan comes to leave the Aesir and continue on in his adventures. I really like the cover art by Colleen Doran.
October 30, 2024
"Frozen Faith, Part 4: The Hidden World"
In a sense, this issue reads a little like an epilogue to the Frost-Giant's Daughter as Zub takes us on a short excursion into the life of (a really) young Conan. The concept of godhood and worship is brought to the forefront here and it's done really well. A solid cap off to one of the strongest arcs yet in the series.
In a sense, this issue reads a little like an epilogue to the Frost-Giant's Daughter as Zub takes us on a short excursion into the life of (a really) young Conan. The concept of godhood and worship is brought to the forefront here and it's done really well. A solid cap off to one of the strongest arcs yet in the series.
October 27, 2024
I like the world-building, the art, and the way the characters react to Conan.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews