Conan the Barbarian, Vol. 4: Frozen Faith

Conan the Barbarian (2023)

by Jim Zub, Diego Rodríguez (colorist), Doug Braithwaite (artist)

Year two of Conan the Barbarian comics kicks off in spectacular style, filled with high adventure, savage combat, ancient gods, and rollicking sword-and-sorcery action!

Volume four of this epic series is masterfully crafted by the critically-acclaimed team of Jim Zub and Doug Braithwaite - fans of Robert E. Howard’s legendary hero are in for a thrill!

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 creators Jim Zub (Avengers, Dungeons & Dragons) and Doug Braithwaite (Punisher, Justice)!

Collects Conan the Barbarian #14-17

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

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2025

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

[Jim Ef · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.7/10
I went into this, thinking that it would be my last book of the series. Not that it got bad or anything, it's just that after 5 volumes ( 4 of the main run and Battle of the black stone ) i thought i should invest my time and money in other books. Thing is... I quite liked this volume, actually it's my favourite so far. There is something beautiful in it's simplicity. So i might not be done with Conan just yet.

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Zub treads familiar ground with this retelling of The Frost-Giant's Daughter. Off the top of my head, I can count 3 other times its been adapted in comics. But for the first time we get to see how Conan met up with the Vanir and some of what happens after. Plus the REH tale is told from a different perspective.

I always enjoy Doug Braithwaite artwork.

[Bill Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zub’s take on REH’s The Frost Giant’s Daughter. Very well done. A young Conan comes to grips with his doubting religious beliefs. It could have easily been told over 2 issues instead of four.

[Jim Kuenzli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This trade collects issues 13 through 16 of Titan’s Conan the Barbarian comic. The 4 issue book works in the only Howard story based in Nordheim— One of my favorites, “The Frost Giant’s Daughter.” There was some expansion to the beginning and end of the story to provide context to Conan being in the area. There were a few liberties taken during the story, but I think it worked really well. There were a few flashbacks to Conan’s youth as he questions faith in Crom or any gods. It might have seemed like filler, but the actual story is quite short, and Zub builds on a young Conan’s belief system. He learns there are indeed supernatural powers and gods. We get to see some deep thinking, learning, and yearning, not only for Atali, but for more than the grim North can give. Well done. Artwork and story on point.

[Jim Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume collects issues in which Robert E. Howard’s story “The Frost Giant’s Daughter” is expanded upon. Between savage battles and flashbacks to Conan’s childhood, we learn how he comes to believe what he believes regarding the existence of Crom and other gods. Excellent combination of story and art.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going into this volume, I wasn’t overly excited knowing that it was a retelling of Robert E Howard’s original Conan story, The Frost Giant’s Daughter.

However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much further Jim Zub takes this story, expanding it both before and after the events those who have read the original story are familiar with. Including flashbacks to a younger Conan, giving an insight to his views of the gods from a young age.

Doug Braithwaite’s illustrations are truly great in this one, giving splashes of colour in the best way in an otherwise pale and snow covered landscape.

The essays at the back of the volume always make for an interesting read too, with analysis on how the comics link to REH, his other works, and his apparent inspirations he drew from when writing his original stories.

I’d say that so far with the new Titan Comics Conan volumes, the first three heavily link to each other and I’d say have to be read as such to get the full experience. Whereas, with volume four, this can be a standalone as far as I can tell.

I have Volume 5 on my shelf, and I’m looking forward to picking it up soon, and seeing if they do in fact continue with this arc.

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent Conan book. This is the series retelling of the Frost Giant's Daughter. Grateful artwork and brutal fights.

After leaving his home of Cimmeria, part in wonder lust and part of losing his faith, Conan meets another tribe of people, but from them he will meet something more than human.

The book captures all the essential parts of the original story. Seeing Conan's loss of faith and the flashback of his youth made this version of the story better. The book finishes with a sketchbook, thumbnail variant covers and a wraparound variant cover.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this one the author and artist thought that as he goes north to the Frozen Wastes of Nordheim we could also have small snippets of Conan early life as a blacksmith apprentice and his relation with his father and with Crom. We also get a glimpse of the very beautiful daughter of the Aesir - the Frost Gian's Daughter. Keep them coming, another one to buy.

[Will Robinson Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stellar storytelling with incredible visuals. Jim Zub continues to masterfully breath new life in the Hyborian Age of Robert E. Howard. Zub's writing is well match with the pencils of Doug Braithwaite. The is weight and mythis quality to the art. The frozen north of the Vikings is a wonderful backdrop to the world of Gods & monsters. Conan is trying to process the unexplain and mystery to the world he inhabits. I really enjoyed the flashbacks to Conan's early childhood & the impact that his people's worship of Crom has on the strange encounter he has as a man with Atali. The story really highlights how oftern myth & legend crossover. There is the reality that we see, taste, & touch that contrasts to the supernatural. Conan ponders the very idea of faith. To be human is to question our very existence and our purpose in life. We all face these questions as we walk through life. Of course no Conan tale would be complete without battles and swordplay. The action in the book is both brutal and oddly beautifully drawn. I love how some of the artwork slides almost out of the panels. This series just continues to be one of the best comic book series in the market. If you are looking for more great sword & sandals comic book action checkout: The Last God: Book I of the Fellspyre Chronicles, Birthright, Vol. 1: Homecoming, Demon Knights, Volume 1: Seven Against the Dark, King Conan, Conan the Barbarian: The Life and Death of Conan, Book One, Ronin Island, Vol. 1.

[Shannon Schmelzle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am extremely mixed on this one.

As far as adaptions of Frost Giant's Daughter, this might be the weakest I have read. Comparing it to both the Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor-Smith and the Kurt Busiek/Cary Nord adaptions.

However, does this have no value? No. The art is quite good. Doug Braithwaite is a great artist for Conan and I think the much brighter snow filled pallet of this story does his art more justice then the darker more shadowy stories he illustrated before.

Also the story. Zub chooses to have part of it from Atali's point of view, which was...meh. Honestly, this was by far the worst part of this for me. I don't like having her single out and watching Conan before the battlefield where she will eventually show up on.

However right when I thought I was going to say this was a story mostly only good for the trashcan, then the last issue elevated it a lot as it Zub uses this story to basically instill a sense of faith in Conan. Which very much lines up with other things the character has said/done in other stories. And that faith gives him a purpose and pushes him forward.

So, basiaclly, the first and last issues of this were pretty great, the middle two were mediocre at best.

[Alex Sarll]

One of the essays in the back talks about the significance of The Frost-Giant's Daughter as both one of the first Conan stories, and the first given an official adaptation to comics, since revisited at the barbarian's various publishers over the years. Well, here's Titan's take, and my first thought was that they were leaning into the beginning of their name by showing a little more of the seductive snow-siren than Marvel could (though apparently Barry Windsor-Smith made a good fist of it in Savage Tales). Other than that... well, it's not as good as the previous volume, but a lot better than the one before that, and if I'm not convinced Conan's youthful crisis of faith in Crom is as fascinating as Zub seems to find it, I'm at least impressed that this modern version doesn't get too punctilious about applying modern sensibilities to Conan's pursuit of Atali. Solid, straightforward swords and sorcery in the frozen north.

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

Belief gives me hope. Belief makes me stronger… once you’re a man, you get to seek your own answers and live your own life, but til then, my boy, do try to keep your mind open and mouth shut.

A mesmerizing Conan story that straddles the reality of the blood and blade and the mysticism of Crom (God) and what powers are greater than even Conan.

This was a story I really needed to read. I’m working on my own system of belief- a power greater than me- and seeing the wisdom of the cimmerians was helpful in guiding my own thoughts. Plus, so many heads were cut off and faces smashed AND Conan killed a bear barehanded!

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Titan run dips into adapting original Robert E. Howard stories for the first time with the classic The Frost-Giant's Daughter. It's a solid retelling with a slight twist or two, although it feels like it might have been slightly stretched to fill the "full" 4 issue arc (if you consider 4 issues to be a full trade). My personal preference is for the other artistic team, but the work here is solid, and I understand the need to alternate due to publishing constraints. It's a nice thing just to be able to get high-quality Conan every month.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jim Zub's take on "The Frost Giant's Daughter". Zub has expanded the story to include some flashbacks to Conan's childhood. I guess there wasn't enough content in the original short story to get four issues. I know it's not all that long but it's been a while since I read it. Doug Braithwaite's art is perfect for Conan.

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Conan story...but this time with even more boobies!

[Sohrab Rezvan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another retelling of the Frost Giant's Daughter. Classic Conan with great storytelling and artwork to match. I don't know that we needed yet another retelling, but it was well done.

[Al Capwned · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remake of one of the most popular Conan stories but it's always fun to see every reincarnation of this one.

[Carl Grider · Rating 4 out of 5]

great retelling of one of the all time great Conan stories.

[Jeremy Vetock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun pulp, nice rendition of a sword and sorcery classic

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was die verschiedensten Adaptionen von Die Tochter des Frostriesen angeht, so ist der mittlerweile vierte Teil von Jim Zubs Conan-Reihe leider bisher der schwächste Teil der Reihe, verglichen mit der Darstellung der Frostriesentochter von Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor-Smith als auch mit der Kurt Busiek/Cary Nord-Ausführung, nicht zu vergessen Robin Rechts Version aus einem anderen Verlag.

Trotzdem kann man sich den Comic anschauen, denn die Zeichnungen von Doug Braithwaite passen zu Conan, die hellen, mit Schnee und Eis gefüllte Palette dieser Geschichte wird seiner Kunst mehr gerecht als die dunkleren, schattigeren Geschichten, die er zuvor illustriert hat.
Zub hat sich dafür entschieden, einen Teil der Geschichte aus der Sicht von Atali, der Tochter des Frostriesen, zu erzählen, was eher mau war. Das hätte man weglassen können und ist mehr Füllmaterial und trägt zur Geschichte nichts bei, sie beobachtet Conan auf dem Schlachtfeld, auf dem sie dann letztendlich direkt vor ihm auftaucht.
Das letzte Kapitel hat die Story um einiges aufgewertet, da Conan es schafft, wieder mehr Selbstvertrauen für sich zu finden, und dieser Glaube an sich selbst und sein bisheriger Lebensweg mit dem bereits gewonnenen Wissen und Können gibt ihm ein Ziel und treibt ihn vorwärts. In Rückblenden wirft Zub einen weiteren Blick auf Conans Kindheit und Jugend und wie er zu dem wurde, der er heute ist.