Conan, Vol. 1: The Frost Giant's Daughter and Other Stories

Conan: Dark Horse Collection

by Kurt Busiek, Cary Nord (Illustrator), Thomas Yeates (Illustrator)

When the internationally famous barbarian hero returned to comics, with an all-new fresh start by award-winning writer Kurt Busiek (JLA/Avengers, Astro City) and dynamic artists Cary Nord, Thomas Yeates, and Dave Stewart, the result was instant sell-outs and multiple printings to keep up with the demand. Now Conan's earliest adventures are collected in a handsome 192-page collection. Catch all the action and savagery as he wars with the murderous Vanir, meets the Frost Giant's Daughter, and is taken as a slave by the ancient sorcerers of Hyperborea! This top-selling new series faithfully expands on original author Robert E. Howard's literary creation.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Fiction, Sword and Sorcery, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

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

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This 'Conan' was doubtless just some bestial strongman who briefly ruled over terrified peasants through fear and the blade." -- the wazir, a clueless political / religious advisor to royalty

"No. They . . . respected him. Longed for his return. I want to know more about him." -- a curious prince, intrigued at discovering a statue of Conan

I second the prince's notion - writer Busiek takes the pulp scribe Robert E Howard's durable creation (who first appeared in print nearly 100 years ago during the Great Depression) to team with artists Nord & Yeates for a splendid graphic novel retelling of an early episode involving everyone's favorite barbarian. It's sort of interesting that Conan - not the most verbose guy, but also not simply the 'strong silent type' either - makes for a humane and engaging protagonist. He suppresses (but does not forget) the trauma from his past, abides by a steely sense of honor, and is the fiercest dude on the battlefield YET is not invincible. In this dramatic adventure he throws in with some besieged travelers - who are being mercilessly attacked in the opening scene - and then experiences a big blood-soaked and crunchy mystical tale boasting a boiling cauldron of action, peril, and tragedy.

[Jan Philipzig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the 1970s Conan comics by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith and the 1982 movie starring Arnold, but this series by Kurt Busiek, Cary Nord, and Dave Stewart is arguably the ultimate adaptation of Robert E. Howard's legendary Depression-era character. Busiek keeps his tendency to overwrite in check here and delivers his best work to date, brilliantly capturing the material's pulpy spirit while adjusting the content to the requirements of the comic-book format. Nord's pencils and Stewart's coloring provide suitably spectacular visuals, their painterly aesthetic enhanced by the lack of inkwork. Sword and sorcery does not get any better than this, awesome stuff!

[Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another example where visuals ruined my experience. Writing itself is good, maybe deserving 4 stars. This time instead of Mesopotamia and Persia main inspiration for this reboot is old Scandinavian myths and landscape. Story is what you would expect, pulpy action with badass hero. Unfortunately experience was largely ruined for me by illustrations. They somewhat remind me of paintings done in watercolors without clear outlines and with very little details. Faces look very awkward and action sequences look very dull and without gory details.

Writing: 4 stars
Illustrations: 2 stars
Overall: 3 stars which is too bad because this could have been lot better.

[Jim Ef · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.8/10
This was the first time I read anything about Conan and it definitely managed to made me want to know about the character.

Conan the Cimmerian is in search of the mythical city of Hyperborea, a place he have heard great stories. In his way there, he will meet many people, some he will call friends while some will turn to foes.

It’s a very nice story about the legendary warrior’s early adventures. Well written and beautifully illustrated. I must say that if you don’t like violence than you should skip this one.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked it. Good art. Very true to the spirit of Howard's stories. Good mix of shorter stand-alone stories and overarching character arc.

There. A short, to-the-point review, just to prove I can do it.

[Edward Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artwork, the story, everything here jells so well together.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conan heads North fighting the Aesir before making it to Hyperborea. I was surprised Conan visited Hyperborea so early in his life. I remembered it as the mythical kingdom Conan was always searching for. Busiek really captures the tone and feel of Robert E. Howard. The art in this one is great. Cary Nord and Thomas Yates give the book a real Frazetta vibe.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Crom, if I could give this scribe 10 stars, then by the halls of Valhalla I would make it so! For a nerd such as myself, it really doesn't get much better. If I try and get into the psycho-analysis behind such a ridiculous, over the top character like Conan, I start thinking about how he's probably a latent manifestation of modern man's suppressed bestial side - the man who uses his strength, cunning and shear brutality to impose his will on the beasts, backstabbers and women he encounters. A man who would scoff at how weak and pampered we are today - our use of fingers incessantly tapping away on strange rectangles, instead of muscles wielding forged steel into our enemies. Ahhh, the good old hyborean days....well, I've got to run to Starbucks. Till we meet again, this man they call CONAN of CIMMERIA!!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was indeed AMAZING, both for the on-point Hyborean writing by Busiek and some eye-popping, Franzetta-esque panels by the artists. I mean, take a look at just TWO of the more memorable ones:





Conan is always interesting as he isn't a particularly good guy, he just consistently runs into ones who are far worse. This comic probably wouldn't get published in this form even nowadays, frankly, due to the protagonists unreconstructed barbaric ways, so it's definitely worth seeking out.

[Diz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is quite good, and the writer and artist do a really good job of making it feel like you are reading a Conan novel.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of all the adaptations of Robert E. Howard's work, supposedly Dark Horse's Conan is the most faithful to the spirit, tone, and character of the adventures of the Cimmerian. This one has been on my to read list for a while, and I finally just finished it. And you know what? I really enjoyed it!

This adaptation comes courtesy of Kurt Busiek. That alone should be a sign that the source material will be treated with a level of respect and understanding that few other writers in comic books can achieve. It may come as a surprise, given that I just praised the guy, that I found Busiek's own Astro City to be a bit boring. I wasn't sure what I was expecting going in, but I ended up dropping the book halfway through out of disappointment. However, I do feel that he "gets" storytelling in a way that few ever do. Though I was bored reading it, Astro City showed an awareness for superhero comics and their place in the medium that is only surpassed by Watchmen. Perhaps it was the execution that turned me off. I did enjoy his Marvels book, which believably took the reader through the history of the Marvel. It's weird that despite the similarity between the two, I ended up enjoying one but not the other. However, both books served to build a trust in me for the name "Kurt Busiek" that has served me well so far.

I decided to hold off on reading this one until I actually experienced some of the original Conan stories written by Howard. I now see why his stories, while not deep meditative works on the human condition, are still read today. Howard possesses a rare ability as a writer to create a rhythm with his stories that is innate in some, but not all. Doing Conan "right" is incredibly difficult since any adaptation will inevitably be compared to Howard's own stories. I read a few issues of Brian Wood's Conan, and while the stuff that directly adapts Howard's stories are fun and good, his original stuff can be a bit too sentimental. On the other hand, Schwarzenneger's Conan paints the character in broad strokes, yet captures the look, feel, and tone of a Conan story. Busiek's Conan, which combines Howard's original stories with new stuff, gets him right.

What I like about this first volume is that it takes the story "The Frost Giant's Daughter," and expands on it in a believable fashion, and without losing the furious pace for which Howard is known for. The story is bigger in scale, so Busiek gets away with expounding on the details surrounding Conan's partnership with the Aesir, who were seen briefly at the beginning and the end of the original short story. The events aren't especially amazing; there's a fight, and a snow-skinned, golden-haired woman appears to taunt Conan and lead him into a trap, there's another fight, a chase, then the woman disappears. Compared to other Conan tales I've read, "The Frost Giant's Daughter" was a weaker one. In the context of Busiek's own first volume, this short feels like a big lipped alligator moment. In fact, I'd consider his addition to the Conan mythos superior to the original story this is based on!

Beyond that is a more compelling tale. This first volume portrays Conan true to the source, an adventurer always in search of new excitements, a man who fights, makes friends, questions his own ideals, and loves. All of these sides of Conan are touched upon in this book, showing his depth many assume that he lacks. From what backstory we glean from the Cimmerian, his people are taught that the Aesir are cowardly and stupid, little better than the Vanir. And yet, he finds himself fighting alongside them when the Vanir attack an Aesir settlement. Because the enemy raiders attack women, children, the sick, and the elderly, Conan's morals lead him to intervene. From this, he gains the Aesir's trust. He learns that this group aren't much different than his own. They have their own customs and belief, as well as honor, which paints them in a positive light in both the reader's eyes and, eventually, Conan's. As he comes to realize this, he wonders if the Vanir aren't dissimilar. If what he was taught about one group was wrong, why couldn't he be wrong about another?

While Howard's Conan stories were exciting, I often felt that there wasn't much tension to them. Conan was smart and strong, and a combination those two virtues along with some determination was usually enough to get him through any situation. In Busiek's story, Conan often fought uphill battles, the odds stacked against him. More often than not, Conan would actually fail because the forces that fought against him were more than he could bear. This served to humanize him, compared to the more superhuman way Howard typically portrayed the barbarian. This actually made for a more compelling read.

I especially enjoyed Conan's time in Hyperborea. Just as with Howard's own stories, the city is an alien place with just a tinge of familiarity. Those two qualities make the place uncanny and horrifying, much like the tales that featured alien monstrosities, giant snakes, conjured devils, and wicked sorcerers. The Hyperboreans are presented as mystifying, but horrible due to their actions. Robert E. Howard would be proud.

I won't say how it ends, but I admit that I did not see it coming. After everything is said and done, Conan must put the events that preceded behind him and journey onward. This is true to who he is. Conan is a character that lives not for the past, but for the present. This works well for his stories, since they are always in the moment. Anybody can pick up a Conan tale from its beginning and not feel lost, despite being taken away to a time long past. Kurt Busiek understood what made Howard's writing good, and used it here to continue the mythos.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I once read that the opening lines or paragraph of a book are the most important words in the story. They draw the reader in and give him an idea of where the book is going. There are many examples of this; Jane Austens inspired 'It is a truth universally acknowledged...' from Pride and Prejudice, Dickens dour 'It was the worst of times. It was the best of times...' and what is probably the most concise and impactful line from all literature 'Call me Ismael.' from Moby Dick. Another one I would like to add to the list is Robert E. Howards muscular, definitive opening lines to his Conan stories, 'Hither came Conan the Cimmerian. Black haired, sullen eyed, sword in hand. A thief, a reaver, a slayer with gigantic melancholies angigantic mirths to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandaled feet.' This paragraph tells a reader all he needs to know about Conan in a clear and concise way. Conan is not a touchy feely kind of man. No metro-sexual, angst-ridden man looking to be saved here and thankfully Kurt Busiek seems to understand this. He writes Conan much the way R.E. Howard envisioned him almost a hundred years ago. He is a man of action and adventure. Travelling the Hyborian with a sword in hand fearing neither man nor beast nor monster. He is also a man of noble mind and a warriors sense of loyalty and this is the Conan that this book gives us and with it one of the most complete portrait of this complex characters. The adventures and the characters that people them are also compelling but that is to be expected because the writer remains loyal to Howards source material but these are tales about Conan the Barbarian and he should be the focus of them and he is. This book is a bare bones sword and sorcery fantasy depicting a world that is too fantastic to have been real but just real enough to believe that it all could have happened. Men fighting with swords, immortal wizards with magical stones, flying monks and sensual woman. They are all here playing a role in the Cimmerians' world and all integral to the plot with liberal use of Howards' powerful words.

The artwork also does the material justice. Finally detailed pencil work is enhanced by the muted, oily colors that bring the Hyborian world to life. Freezing snows, dense forests and the jeweled cities are all painted with an artists eye and the tone and feeling of the book compliment the words and add to the already exciting plot. This book is good all around and proves that literature can work as a comic book. One of my favorites.

[Richard Dominguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent story that follows Conan on a journey to see the fabled Hyperborea, a land of riches, beauty and eternal life.
The book has 7 chapters, each a different adventure but all linked to tell one tale of courage, trust, friendship and lose.
The story is excellent and so well written I became one with the story. The artwork in the tradition of a Conan story is beautiful, majestic and is filled with believable images of ages long lost to mankind.
So very glad this one is in my collection, well wroth the read and I'm sure I'll doing so again.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Know, O prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an Age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars...
-The Nemedian Chronicles

I admit, I got chills when I read the intro of this comic, where a wandering prince surveys a ruined land and finds a treasure horde watched over by the statue of a long-dead man. He reads the inscription and asks his vizier to tell him of this "Conan," and in response, the vizier digs up the Nemedian Chronicles and begins to read the passage above. Maybe that's because Anvil of Crom started playing in my head as I read it, though.

I'd been warned away from a lot of Conan pastiches from various places, so I hadn't sought out anything Conan-related since reading the Conan the Cimmerian collection of Howard's original stories a few years ago. But I heard that the Dark Horse comics were pretty good enough times that when I realized the Chicago Public Library was signed up with Hoopla and I could get comics with my taxes, I checked out the Conan comics. They have at least up to volume 14 of the Dark Horse collections, so I'll be here a while.

Howard never bothered coming up with a chronological order or consistency for his Conan stories. They were meant to be snatches from his life, the kind of thing you might hear if you sat down for a drink with Conan and asked him how he learned to speak Hyrkanian, and he'd talk about his time exploring the islands of the Vilayet Sea and basically recount the plot of The Devil in Iron. But nerds being nerds, there are a lot of attempts to put the stories in order, and in The Frost Giant's Daughter and Other Stories follows in that same tradition. It starts with Conan in Nordheimr lands, having traveled north out of the dark forests of Cimmeria seeking adventure, and he gets involved in a feud between a group of Æsir and Vanir and joins up with the Æsir to fight with them. After a battle, the events of The Frost-Giant's Daughter occur, where Conan is lured away by an icy-pale woman who turns out to be Atali, daughter of Ymir, and defeats the frost-giants she calls before she escapes. Then more fighting and Conan talking about how he wants to visit Hyperborea, a land of eternal summer and plenty in the midst of the northern ice. And eventually he gets his wish, but it doesn't go as he expects.

My favorite part was definitely Hyperborea, with its decadent sorcerers languid in their immortality. The place of magic changes in various Conan stories, from being something that could easily be a kind of proto-science or alien knowledge to the heart-exploding sorcery of "People of the Black Circle." Conan's adventures in Hyperborea definitely lean toward the latter, with eternal summer and eternal life. The Conan stories are full of cities that are inexplicably more advanced than the surrounding area, or small valleys filled with monstrous creatures not found elsewhere, and Hyperborea has both. They take Howard's ideas about barbarism to their limit. With no challenges to their rule, their every whim fulfilled by their magic and alchemy, and no need hurry and leave a mark on the world due to their immortality, the Hyperboreans are the ultimate expression of decadent civilization set against the vitality of Conan's barbarism. Even when Conan starts to upend the order of the city, the Hyperboreans he opposes can barely stir themselves to stop him, so drained of life are they by their ennui.

Conan stories certainly aren't high literature, but they're amazing pulp, with a compelling flow and a rip-roaring use of language. The Frost Giant's Daughter and Other Stories cheats a bit by borrowing a lot of the dialogue from the original stories, especially in the titular section. Plus the use of the "Know, O prince" bit I quoted above, but it works. The comic format itself seems like fragments from the stories depicted, each panel a sentence as Conan describes his adventures over a flagon of ale, and while the art felt a little blurry to me after coming from books like the Locke & Key ones, it did its job.

Good thing that the library has up to volume 14, because if the rest of them are anything like this one, I'm going to read them all.

Next Review: Conan, Vol. 2: The God in the Bowl and Other Stories.

[AndrewP · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this as a signed edition at ComiCon many years ago and only now got around to reading it.

One of the better graphic novels I have read. Primarily I judge graphic novels by the artwork first, story second and then how the two mesh together. This one scores in the art department. It's a little stylized but is in general excellent quality throughout. Story wise it's based on a stories by Robert E. Howard so not very original but I give the writer high marks for interpretation.

Well worth reading even if your not a Conan fan.

[Dimitrios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Διαβάστε το άρθρο και στο ιστολόγιό μου, Κοιλάδα της Γνώσης: https://Fwww.koiladatisgnosis.gr/logo...

Ολόκληρο το άρθρο και εδώ:

Έχοντας πρόσφατα απολαύσει το The Complete Chronicles of Conan, μία χιλιοσέλιδη συλλογή όλων των ιστοριών τού Robert E. Howard με τον Κόναν τον Βάρβαρο, έψαχνα για περαίτερω σχετικό υλικό. Κι επειδή ως γνωστόν η τύχη ευνοεί τους…διαβαστερούς, πρόσφατα οι εκδόσεις Anubis κυκλοφόρησαν την Κόρη του Γίγαντα των Πάγων και Άλλες Ιστορίες (2 τεύχη, 178 σ., 18,92€). Πρόκειται για το πρώτο κόμιξ τής σειράς τής Darkhorse για τον συμπαθή βάρβαρο, και φυσικά επέλεξα να συνεχίσω τις περιπέτειές μου στην Ιβοριανή Εποχή με αυτό.

Το σενάριο υπογράφεται από τον Kurt Busiek και περιστρέφεται γύρω από την μόλις 3.284 λέξεων ομότιτλη ιστορία τού Howard, η οποία μάλιστα πρωτοεκδόθηκε μετά τον θάνατο τού συγγραφέα (το 1953 στην συλλογή The Coming of Conan τής Gnome Press). Στην εν λόγω ιστορία, ο Κόναν είναι ο μόνος επιζών μίας μάχης στην βορινή Νόρντχαϊμ. Εξαντλημένος και τραυματισμένος, συναντάει μία γυναίκα και τους αιμοδιψείς αδερφούς της, παλεύει ξανά για την ζωή του, και στο τέλος δεν ξέρει κατά πόσον όλα αυτά ήταν προϊόν τής φαντασίας του ή η πραγματικότητα.

Όλα αυτά φυσικά περιέχονται στο κόμιξ, όμως ο Busiek δεν μένει μόνο εκεί. Όχι. Προσθέτει προοιμιακό υλικό για να εξηγήσει την παρουσία τού Κόναν σε τόσο βορινές περιοχές, και εκεί εδράζεται και το ζουμί της ιστορίας. Ο Κόναν είναι σε αναζήτηση τής θρυλικής Υπερβορείας, πιστεύοντας πως πρόκειται για μία ουτοπική κοινωνία όπου ο ήλιος λάμπει όλο τον χρόνο, όλοι είναι ευτυχισμένοι, και κανένας εχθρός δεν τολμάει να πλησιάσει. Μπλέκεται στην διαμάχη των Άινιρ και των Βάνιρ, φυλών ομοίων με τους Σκανδιναβικούς λαούς, συμμετέχει στα γεγονότα που εξιστορούνται από τον Howard, και κατόπιν προδίδεται από έναν ερωτικό αντίζηλο, και τελικά βρίσκει την θρυλική Υπερβορεία. Μόνο που δεν ήταν καθόλου όπως την φανταζόταν… Υπό καθεστώς ανελευθερίας, ο Κόναν ανακαλύπτει μυστικά αιώνων, σκηνές τρέλας και φρίκης, και απάνθρωπες καταστάσεις. Και έχει και να πάρει εκδίκηση από αυτόν που τον πρόδωσε… Φανταστική είναι και η έγχρωμη εικονογράφηση των Gary Nord και Thomas Yeates, καθώς και η εγκιβώτιση της ιστορίας μέσω των Χρονικών της Νεμεδίας.

Το εν λόγω κόμιξ είναι ένα καλό εναρκτήριο σημείο για την εξερεύνηση τού κόσμου τού Κόναν, καθώς μένει πιστό στις πατροπαράδοτες παραδόσεις τού Howard. Ελπίζω πως σύντομα θα μεταφραστούν και τα υπόλοιπα είκοσι δύο κόμιξ τής σειράς τής Darkhorse. Για άλλα κόμιξ τού Κόναν στα ελληνικά, μπορείτε να κοιτάξετε το Επικές Περιπέτειες Conan: Οι Άνθρωποι του Μαύρου Κύκλου & άλλες ιστορίες. Μερικές από τις ιστορίες τού Howard με τον Κόναν κυκλοφορούν σε τόμους από τις εκδόσεις Αίολος. Δείτε επίσης και τις δύο καταπληκτικές ταινίες Conan the Barbarian και Conan the Destroyer με τον Arnold Schwarzenegger στον ρόλο τού βάρβαρου. Αν σας αρέσ��ι ο Robert Jordan, συγγραφέας τής σειράς επικής φαντασίας Ο Τροχός του Χρόνου, μπορείτε να αναζητήσετε τα επτά μυθιστορήματα που έχει γράψει με τον Κόναν. Έχω παραγγείλει δύο τόμους που συγκεντρώνουν έξι από αυτά από το bookdepository και ίσως γράψω και δύο λόγια όταν με το καλό τους διαβάσω. Και, φυσικά, όλες οι ιστορίες τού Howard με τον Κόναν βρίσκονται στην προαναφερθείσα ογκώδη συλλογή The Complete Chronicles of Conan.

Ευχαριστώ θερμά τις εκδόσεις Anubis για την προμήθεια τού κόμιξ. Ελπίζω να το διαβάσετε και να σας αρέσει! Μπορείτε να συμμετάσχετε στην κλήρωση για το κόμιξ στην σελίδα του ιστολογίου στο Facebook εδώ: https://www.facebook.com/koiladatisgn...

Φίλες και φίλοι, μείνετε συντονισμένοι στην Κοιλάδα της Γνώσης για περισσότερες παρουσιάσεις βιβλίων και συνεντεύξεις…

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

Leaves his home to find a place he heard of that sounds like heaven, Joins a group of soldiers and meets a mythic woman of the ice, is captured and sold into slavery, finds that place and realizes it’s run by horrible long-lived creatures who have nearly unlimited time and use it by indulging themselves in every way they can, loses another girl and his crew, gets revenges, drinks and eats. Continues on his journey.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Dark Horse's take on Conan, and it's a good one. Both the stories and art are top notch. While I always consider Savage Sword of Conan to be the definitive Conan comic, this is definitely near that level.

[Smassing Culture · Rating 4 out of 5]

Κριτική στο Smassing Culture

Ένα παράθυρο στην Υβοριανή εποχή

O ήρωας του Robert Howard έχει μια μεγάλη παρουσία στην 9η Τέχνη, από αρκετά νωρίς μάλιστα. Θα μπορούσε να πει κανείς ότι η πορεία του αυτή στα καρέ των κόμικς συνέβαλε με έναν τρόπο ώστε οι ιστορίες του Conan. του Κιμμέριου να συγκρούονται κάθε φορά με την εποχή στην οι αναγνώστες τις διάβαζαν, να εκσυγχρονίζονται και να επηρεάζουν νέο κοινό.

Έχουμε ήδη δει και εδώ στο σάιτ τον τόμο με αρκετές ιστορίες του Roy Thomas από τα 1970s και στα ελληνικά από τις εκδόσεις Αnubis. Tώρα, οι ίδιες εκδόσεις μας φέρνουν μια μικρότερη συλλογή από τα early 00s, δια χειρός του Kurt Busiek και σε σχέδιο του Carry Nord, η oποία κυκλοφορεί σε δύο μέρη (σε μετάφραση του Ορέστη Μανούσου).

Αρχικά εκδιδόμενες από τη Dark Horse η ιστορία που κυριαρχεί σε αυτή τη συλλογή είναι «Η Κόρη του Γίγαντα των Πάγων», μια ιστορία η οποία αφορά έναν νεαρό Conan. Ο μικρός βάρβαρος έχει όλα τα γνώριμα χαρακτηριστικά του που έχουμε δει σε ιστορίες της νιότης του, όταν ακόμα ήταν ένας κλέφτης, ληστής και επιδρομέας, με λίγες επαφές με τον κόσμο πλην της βίας.

Ωστόσο το περιβάλλον της ιστορίας και ο ίδιος ο πυρήνας της, η αναζήτηση της θρυλικής Υπερβόρεας από τον νεαρό Conan. αντλούσε το υλικό της αυτούσιο από τη σκανδιναβική μυθολογία. Ακόμα και οι φυλές που συναντά ο Κιμμέριος, οι Έιζιρ και οι Βάνιρ είναι οι θεοί των Βίκινκς, εχθροί των γιγάντων και προστάτες των πολεμιστών . Αυτό βέβαια δεν ήταν άγνωστο για τον Howard που επηρεάστηκε πολύ από την ευρωπαϊκή ιστορία και μυθολογία για να φτιάξει τους κόσμους του. Ωστόσο η ίδια η ιστορία παρουσιάζει ένα μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον λόγω και των έντονων στοιχείων της αρχαιοελληνικής μυθολογίας που παρουσιάζει, πιο συγκεκριμένα του μύθου της Δάφνης και του Απόλλωνα, αν και εδώ οι ρόλοι έχουν αντιστραφεί.

Η εν λόγω εκδόθηκε μετά τον θάνατο του Howard, καθώς αρχικά απορρίφθηκε από το Weird Tales. Κοιτώντας τη καλύτερα ίσως να μπορεί να καταλάβει κανείς το γιατί. Ο ίδιος ο Conan είναι ουσιαστικά ένας υπερήρωας της εποχή του, πολύ ανώτερος από τους αντιπάλους του, ενώ ακόμα και οι θεοί τρέχουν μπροστά στο θυμό του. Για τους τελευταίους, ειδικά πρόκειται για γυναίκες, η απεικόνιση είναι τουλάχιστον σκοποφιλική. Η δε εγκιβωτισμένη αφήγηση ενισχύει ακόμα περισσότερο αυτή την αίσθηση υπεροχής, σωματικής κυρίως.

Απόλυτα παραδομένη στις ανδρικές εφηβικές και ναρκισσιστικές φαντασιώσεις που πολύ συχνά δυστυχώς η ηρωική φαντασία κάποιες φορές καλλιεργεί, η ιστορία και, τελικά η διασκευή της από το σενάριο του Busiek δεν καταφέρνει να διορθώσει αυτά τα προβλήματα ούτε, τελικά, να φέρει τον ήρωα στην εποχή του κοινού του, όπως κατάφερε ο Τhomas 30 χρόνια νωρίτερα. Να σημειωθεί εδώ δε πως με την ίδια ιστορία είχε παλέψει και ο καλλιτέχνης της σειράς της Marvel, με καλύτερα αποτελέσματα.

Ταυτόχρονα, η σκηνοθεσία των καρέ φαίνεται να είναι μια αμυδρή αψιμαχία με το σενάριο, καθώς κάποιες φορές φαίνεται να χάνεται ο ρυθμός και η δράση να ξεφεύγει μπροστά καλπάζοντας, σε ένα ματωμένο μονοπάτι κορύφωσης ενώ ο λόγος τρέχει να την προλάβει, ακολουθώντας τις αδυναμίες του μοτίβου της εγκιβωτισμένης αφήγησης. Σε αυτό θα έπρεπε ίσως να προστεθούν και κάποιες ασυμφωνίες στη μετάφραση γιατί η γρήγορη γλώσσα του Howard είναι πάντα πολύ εύκολο να ξεφύγει σε βερμπαλισμούς και θέλει συνεχώς προσοχή.

Οι φίλοι του Conan δε χρειάζονται ενθάρρυνση ή αποτροπή. Ξέρουν τι σημαίνει Κιμμέριος και η παρούσα έκδοση είναι μια καλαίσθητη προσθήκη στις καρέ – περιπέτειες του στη γλώσσα μας.

[Κεσκίνης Χρήστος · Rating 5 out of 5]

Λατρεύω την ιστορία του Howard, αγάπησα και την μεταφορά του σε κόμικ από την Dark Horse όταν την πρωτοδιαβασα. Ήρθε η ώρα να την έχω και σε τόμους. Η μόνη μου ένσταση είναι το γιατί όχι κάτι καινούργιο, πάρα ξανά και ξανά οι ίδιες ιστορίες να βγαίνουν στα ελληνικά, αλλά από την άλλη, είναι τόσο καλές και κατανοώ ότι έτσι έρχονται κοντά ακόμη περισσότεροι. Κρομ...πρέπει να ανανεώσω τη βιβλιοθήκη μου.

[OmniBen · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review)
Introducing the outstanding art of Cary Nord, whose excellent work will grace a couple dozen issues moving forward, The Frost Giant's Daughter and Other Stories is a slightly different retelling of some of the more prominent and beloved of the Conan stories. And whilst this issue didn't quite leave as much of an impact as the previous volume, there is still more than enough Busiek and Nord magic here to banish away whatever modern comics malaise may have set in, in recent years, even if the violence and wenching was a wee bit dialed down, at least compared with the Original Marvel Years interpretations as best as I remember them. Well worth your time, if you can find it. 4/5


OmniBen.

[Tomáš Drako · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conan sa zapletie do bojov medzi dvoma kmeňmi a konečne spozná legendárne, bájne mesto Hyperboreu !
V poradí druhá kniha a zase mi sadla ako remeň. Jednoduchý príbeh ktorý sa rozvetví do nečakaných situácií. Conan je proste Conan. Kopa svalov, ktorá vie len jediné zabíjať. A mne to vyhovuje dokonale. Páči sa mi dynamická kresba bojov. . Už aby som mal v rukách druhý, a tretí diel.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. Nice beginning to the Dark Horse Conan series. Busiek, Nord, and Stewart really knock this one out of the park.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good art and strong storytelling

[Stasiu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3

Całkiem pog.

[Koen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first glance into this epic hero, called Conan...
And I was definitely intrigued, with this marvelous storytelling, character building and amazing artwork..
I'm sure the following stories will definitely develop into some tremendous adventures..

[Vämpiriüs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Povedená kniha jen ta kresba mi úplně nesedla, nějak jsem jí nepřišel na chuť. Přeci jen Conan je zde ztvárněn velikostně jako běžný muž jehož obličej připomíná plastového panáčka. Ovšem příběhy jsou skvělé a je jen dobře, že jsou řazeny chronologicky. Příběhu nechybí ani epické bitvy plné useknutých končetin či hlav doplněny o neznámé světy, spoře oděné ženy a touhu z poznání i slávy.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most readers of my generation first learned of Conan and Robert E. Howard from the popular 70s Marvel comic book Conan the Barbarian and its companion magazine The Savage Sword of Conan. Initially written by Roy Thomas with elaborate art by Barry Windsor-Smith (and later John Buscema), the series ran until the mid-90s, when Marvel dropped the property due to lagging sales.

With Del Rey's recent best-selling, definitive reprint volumes of Howard's works (the fourth is due this summer), persistent rumors of a new film, and the 2006 centenary celebration of Howard's birth, Dark Horse Comics smartly acquired the comic book rights to Conan. Dark Horse has previously enjoyed successful runs with former Marvel hit licensed properties Star Wars and Godzilla. In the late 80s they began their long string of lucrative franchised properties with Aliens followed by Predator, Planet of the Apes, Betty Page, Tarzan, and others. Conan and Dark Horse are a natural fit.

Conan: The Frost Giant's Daughter and Other Stories collects the first seven plus issues of the comic book (issues zero-six and part of seven). At first glance, "The Frost Giant's Daughter" is an unusual piece to adapt. While potentially visually exciting, the story is one of Howard's weaker (and earliest) Conan tales. Unlike most of Howard's other Conan stories, it is basically just a fight scene containing little substance or plot. By using elements found in Howard's essay on the world of Conan ("Nemedian Chronicles" aka "The Hyborian Age"), Kurt Busiek expands the scope of the original to place the events in the context of Conan's life. Busiek develops Howard's version to incorporate other elements of the Conan mythos.

Contrary to popular misinterpretation (thanks primarily to the Marvel comic books and two feature films), Conan, as presented by Howard, is much more than a fighter. He is a thinker, a tactician, a lover, and a loyal friend. Conan is a barbarian, a thief, a mercenary, and ultimately, a king. The tales are full of political intrigue, romance, swordplay, magic, mythology, and more. Like all of Howard's work, Conan was a vividly imaginative interpretation of a young man's West Texas world.

In the graphic novel, a young Conan has journeyed north in search of the legendary kingdom of Hyborea with its riches and immortals. While saving a young woman's life, he gets embroiled in a confrontation between the warring peoples Aesir and Vanir. Through a series of fights and political machinations, events eventually lead to the frost giant's daughter and eventually Hyborea.

Busiek's masterful manipulation of Howard's playground is supported and supplemented by the artistic talents of Gary Nord, Thomas Yeates, and Dave Stewart. Robert E. Howard was a master of action, who wrote some of the finest and most influential fight scenes ever produced. Reminiscent of Frank Frazetta, the art manages to translate the intensity and flow of the source material. Nord's interpretation of the frost giants is original and inspired.

Similar to DVDs, graphic novel compilations must have extras. The highlight of this section is Robert E. Howard scholar Mark Finn's enlightening and entertaining overview of Howard's life and work, illustrated with Nord's original concept sketches. (This certainly bodes well for Finn's forthcoming literary biography of the author.) Other bonus materials include Nord's audition pages and Joseph Michael Linser's chapter breaks.

Unlike most previous attempts, the handsome Dark Horse package is a welcome addition to the Conan mythos. With Busiek, Nord, Yeates, and Stewart at the helm, I'll be back for the next installment.

(The review originally appeared on SF Site)
Link: [http://www.sfsite.com/04b/fg198.htm]

[FantasyWereld · Rating 5 out of 5]

De barbaar Conan de Cimmeriër is misschien het prototype van sword and sorcery-verhalen is geworden. Heldhaftigheid, bruutheid, soms wat vulgariteit… het ontbreekt Conan allemaal niet! In De Dochter van de IJsreus, dat overigens het eerste Conan-verhaal is dat door uitgeverij Dark Dragon Books is uitgegeven, beginnen we met een proloog die ons naar een volk, die sterk beïnvloed is door de Arabische cultuur van onze wereld. Wazir, raadgever van een prins moet na het vinden van een bijzonder kostbare schat research doen. Hij heeft een legende over de barbaar Conan gevonden en is erin geslaagd om deze te vertellen… Hoewel het verhaal onzin is volgens Wazir, is de prins bijzonder geïnteresseerd naar het verhaal over de zekere Conan en diens zoektocht naar Hyperborea…

Geweldig plot
Het verhaal van Conan wordt op een gedegen manier aan de lezer voorgesteld. Zowel de tekeningen als het scenario vertellen en vullen elkaar op een uitstekende manier aan. De plot die Conans avontuur vertelt bevat mooie wendingen die onvoorspelbaar doch logisch zijn, waardoor het verhaal onvoorspelbaar is. De emoties die de verschillende personages hebben, de sfeer en de ontwikkeling worden door zowel het scenario als de illustraties prima uitgewerkt. Het uiteindelijke resultaat is een plot die de lezer naar meer doet snakken is.

Wil je de gehele recensie lezen? Klik dan hier:
http://www.fantasywereld.nl/recensies...

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic start to a new Conan series. The art is very well done. The cimmerian is in fine form, killing, loving, and holding true to his code of honor. The story starts with Conan trying to find Hyperborea, and ends with him getting the hell away from it and on to the next land. I am far from and expert on Conan but what I have read is very much in line with this book. I'm definitely picking up the next volume in the series, and am now very interested in reading Robert E. Howards other works.

Of interest to those who are fans of not just Conan, but Robert E. Howard in general; the end of the book has a small bio about Howard and his start into writing and then eventually his creation of Conan. There are some interesting quote from correspondence between him and his pulp contemporaries. It is full of information to tantilize me and other readers into further exploration of the pulp authors, particularly Robert E. Howard's many interesting characters. This book is well worth the read either to get you started in the fantasy world, or to expand your horrizons to the very beginings of heroic fantasy and a timeless character.