Conan: The Blood-Stained Crown and Other Stories

Conan (2004) #18, 26-28, 39

by Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza, Rafael Kayanan

Eisner Award-winning writer Kurt Busiek (Astro City, Superman, Marvels) teams up with some of the best artists and writers in this collection of stand-alone stories from Conan. In "Helm," Busiek and Fabian Nicieza (X-Men, Buffy The Vampire Slayer) write and EC Comics legend John Severin draws the story of a certain very famous horned helm. Renowned comics and animation artist Bruce Timm (Batman The Animated Series, Justice League Unlimited) lends his styling to the darkly comic "Conan's Favorite Joke." Current Conan writer and Conan and the Songs of the Dead artist Timothy Truman takes pencil in hand as the Cimmerian's influence crosses generations in "Seeds of Empire" and "The Blood-Stained Crown." Eisner Award-winning Goon creator Eric Powell draws the poignant story of a young and unsung hero in "Storyteller," Dark Horse's centennial tribute to Conan creator Robert E. Howard. And classic Savage Sword of Conan artist Rafael Kayanan returns to the world of Hyboria with "In the Tower of Tara-Teth," a gritty adventure set during the Cimmerian's years as a mercenary and pirate.

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

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2008

About the author

Kurt 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,

Reviews

[Jason Waltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this. Busiek writes a pretty good Conan and tale. Art is tolerable, nothing horrible but equally nothing spectacular. The "Storyteller" is a cool but sorrowful take on REH. "Conan's Favorite Joke" is funny and a good use of 2 pages. "In the Tower of Tara-Teth" is awesome, an absolutely delightful blast that portrays my Conan and the S&S Attitude perfectly.

[Edward Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a somewhat eclectic collection of Conan stories that don't quite fit in with the ongoing narrative of the series. Even so, it's a good collection with some interesting stories. These stories had old school flavor to them, but still went beyond nostalgia. I especially liked the Robert E. Howard tribute story which basically put him in Conan's universe.

[Lost Planet Airman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Storyteller", when read between the lines, is an amazing tribute to Robert Ervin Howard. 5-*

The rest, solid storytelling. I am not an expert on styles of art, but i know after the detailed, realistic protrayals of Conan by other artists, that the illustrators of these works are not my favorite style of Conan art.

Except for "Conan's Favorite Joke". For goodness sake, despite a cartoon-ish feel, the art made this story RING! Another 5-* story!

[Rusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve waited way too long to do this. I legit don’t remember much of anything about this since I read it. I’ll try to list what I remember:

• It was about Conan
• These were a collection of side-stories to the main plot of the comic series.
• One of them had Conan fighting demons in a small village. That story wasn’t about Conan though, it was about a villager kid.
• Maybe a story about Conan sneaking into somewhere and stealing something from a Dragon? Or snake monster.

That’s it. I guess I remember thinking it was fine, so there’s that. I do recall, however, that I’d seen the Jason Momoa version of Conan recently (that's a movie), and that I also thought it was fine.

But that made me remember that I’d met him in person once. He was much taller than I’d expected, and also thinner. Seemed cool. He was just standing there at a table up in Louisville, Ky, at a Con I was attending. I want to say it was at the Neal Adams art table, just thumbing through prints the same as me. It was only him and me there, so I was like, not sure what to say…. So I sorta did that chin nod thing that guys do sometimes.

Whatever, I’m pretty sure he’d consider us best friends. Whatever.

So I looked him up on IMDB and it turns out he was on Baywatch. I just saw that movie, which was fine, and starred the Rock. I’d always thought The Rock would have made a good Conan. But I guess I’ll just have to remember his time as the Scorpion King and pretend it was Conan.

In conclusion. I’m not six years-old. I just write like I am.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a collection of "stranded" Conan issues from the Dark Horse run. Some of these are decent, like "Storyteller" and "The Blood-Stained Crown", though I largely found most of these one off stories to be rather forgettable. The collection has a few different artists - Eric Powell, John Severin, Tim Truman and Rafael Kayanan - all of whom deliver some solid work. Bruce Timm even does a few pages for a Conan gag strip that was pretty entertaining. Overall, this was a solid collection though one that can easily be skipped for a more truncated reading experience for those who just want the main stories.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Blood-Stained Crown & Other Stories. Busiek's miscellaneous stories, unfortunately, are all quite contrived. We get a muddy story that puts the focus on our storyteller; we get some funny stuff; we get a story that tries to present someone as Robert Howard; and we get a really artificial story about Janissa and Conan separately fighting their way to the center of a magic tower. None of it is particularly notable. Nor good. [3/5].

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of one-off Conan stories, building the legend of CONAN. I love this collection, each story traces back something from his legacy, the violence and gore he’s left in his path and hints at his ability to affect massive change.

Conan’s favorite joke and the Helm are my two favorite stories. Different vibes but totally fitting for who Conan is.

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Busiek's Conan stories are always at least somewhat absorbing, but this collection doesn't go beyond that.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few short tales that fall outside the continuum of Busiek's Conan saga. Of special note is "The Storyteller", a tribute to the 100th birthday of Robert E. Howard.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of Conan one - shots. I especially liked "Storyteller". This volume also features some interesting bits of the Prince and the Wazir frame story that we first see in Conan #0 "The Legend".

Contains Dark Horse's "Conan" series issues #26 "Seeds of Empire", #27 "The Blood - Stained Crown", #28 "Storyteller", & #39 "In the Tower of Tara - Teth", as well as "Conan's Favorite Joke", a humorous 4 page story.

[Γιώργος Μπελαούρης · Rating 5 out of 5]

busiek really respets conan
a great contributer to howards legacy

[Orrin Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stand-alone Conan stories by various artists. Nothing that really stands out all that much, but nothing too bad either. There's one with Eric Powell art, and a short with art by Bruce Timm. There's also a monster that breathes out razor-winged bats. So that's something.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a binch of pretty-much forgettable stories.
None of them being bad, but none of them being much on the stand-out side of things.
The Helm... really? an entire story about the travels and tribulations of a horned helm?... lacking inspiration there, Kurt?

[Hillingdon Libraries]

Find this book at Hillingdon Libraries

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of the stand alone issues in the Dark Horse run that don't really fit well anywhere else. Still, these are decent treks into Conan's world.

[Valerio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questo volume raccoglie alcuni episodi secondari della nuova serie di fumetti dedicata al personaggio di Conan dalla Dark Horse.