What do you think?
Rate this book
Conan the Barbarian (2019) (Collected Editions) #2
Conan the Barbarian: The Life and Death of Conan, Book Two
The many loves of Conan! Beyond his lusts for ale, battle and gold, there have been many women who have captured the Barbarian's heart over the years. But nothing is sacred when the Crimson Witch strikes - and twists what is truly best in life! Then, Conan returns home to Cimmeria! But things aren't exactly as he remembers them... Is he that out of touch - or is he falling right into the trap of the wizard Thoth-Amon?! "The Life and Death of Conan" continues!
COLLECTING: CONAN THE BARBARIAN 7-12
COLLECTING: CONAN THE BARBARIAN 7-12
136 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2020
14 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,366 books1,682 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
April 2, 2021
I preferred the first half of this that was solo issue stories over the last three which was the culmination of the Crimson Witch story. The Crimson Witch story devolved into what I expected. The smaller stories worked much better.
June 21, 2020
Die Rote Hexe und ihre Kinder wollen mit Conans Blut die Gottheit Razazel auferstehen lassen. Mythisch, magisch, blutgetränkt kommen die Stories daher, richtig rohes Zeug; genial gezeichnet und koloriert. Sword & Sorcery mit einer ordentlichen Portion Horror vom allerfeinsten!
October 25, 2024
This is the conclusion to the "Life and Death of Conan" story arc. The story certainly does end on a high note. The previous volume, while good, was slightly hard to follow, as the individual issues sometimes jumped between past, near-present, and present time frames. It makes the entirety of the volume seem disjointed.
The second volume brings the myriad storylines into one cohesive story. I rather liked how Aaron was able to tie the diverse stories into one time frame which ties up the connections nicely. So the gist? Conan is seemingly captured by the Witch and her offspring and about to be sacrificed to a dark god as a blood sacrifice. The volume excels in showing how the witch's spawn and the witch herself connected to the previous volume's seemingly unconnected stories.
But the villains aside this was a good look inside the head of Conan and what motivates him. The scene where Conan meets Crom is also quite well written. Overall? This was a good Conan story and would be deserving of 5 stars save that the art is merely "decent" at best. It's not bad and seems to work for the story, but unlike the fulsome praise on the cover of it being "beautiful" and "sweeping" it is merely decent. That's a shame as this story could really have been elevated by a better artist.
The second volume brings the myriad storylines into one cohesive story. I rather liked how Aaron was able to tie the diverse stories into one time frame which ties up the connections nicely. So the gist? Conan is seemingly captured by the Witch and her offspring and about to be sacrificed to a dark god as a blood sacrifice. The volume excels in showing how the witch's spawn and the witch herself connected to the previous volume's seemingly unconnected stories.
But the villains aside this was a good look inside the head of Conan and what motivates him. The scene where Conan meets Crom is also quite well written. Overall? This was a good Conan story and would be deserving of 5 stars save that the art is merely "decent" at best. It's not bad and seems to work for the story, but unlike the fulsome praise on the cover of it being "beautiful" and "sweeping" it is merely decent. That's a shame as this story could really have been elevated by a better artist.
April 12, 2020
Conan the Barbarian is one of the most iconic names in pop culture and even if you haven't read any of Robert E. Howard's original stories or watch any of the two films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the character has been around for so long through multiple media that he has left an impact. Having ceasing the Conan comics that ran for thirty years, Marvel reacquired the rights in 2018 and started new runs of both Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword of Conan, the former of which was written to great effect by Jason Aaron.
Following this first volume that began "The Life and Death and Conan", the remaining six issues here conclude the storyline as we still see the Cimmerian adventuring the world beyond his homeland, whilst slowly building up to his apparent death as the king of Aquilonia, in the hands of the two children of the Crimson Witch. Although there is a loose connection with every issue in relation to the upcoming "Death", each issue functions as its own narrative, showing a different side to the eponymous barbarian.
The first issue shows Conan is escorting a few sex workers on an adventure no one could expect. It's fair to say that women haven't always been treated in fantasy, especially during the pulp years where women are overly sexualised with minimum clothing and often depicted as floosies. There is definitely an element of this in the Hyborian Age as the sex workers in this issue look provocative, Conan never takes advantage of them sexually. Although the women are able to take their stand, especially when we reach the climax of the issue, Conan's alliance with them informs his history with love, briefly mentioning the pirate queen Bêlit, whom Conan had a romantic relationship with.
Jason Aaron is clearly having some of the most fun in his career with this series as he may be writing these fantasy adventures involving giant monsters and cleaving, he also knows how to write Conan remains as a compelling character, not because he's some musclebound lunkhead, it's that he is smart and knows how to wield a sword and has fought his way through bloody battle after bloody battle. When asked why he left Cimmeria, it's because there is a world to behold, beyond his imaging.
For every violent action he commits, Conan will face the consequences in years time as the two children of of the Crimson Witch stalk him throughout his many adventures whilst maintaining their youthful innocent exterior. There may be villains, but Aaron provides a playfulness in their villainy as they do squabble like everyday siblings, but there is a love they have with each other as they commit to their revenge on the barbarian that slain their mother and awaken the Red Doom known as Razazel.
As the primary artist of the series, Mahmud Asrar is so good at illustrating atmosphere, detail, and storytelling. There is obviously more to Conan and his world than just monsters and gory battles, but Asrar sure draws them to exquisite effect as depicted in issue #9, in which Conan tries to escape an endless cave and fights the likes of gigantic spiders, man-apes, human-faced serpents, godlike aliens. Compared to Asrar's more polished art, Gerardo Zaffino is rougher, but fits appropriately with #8, where Conan returns to his home to see his grandmother, only to find that the village has been possessed by dark magic. With large panels and an emphasis on shadows that is contrasted with a darker colour palette (thanks to colourist Matt Wilson), I wished Zaffino was given more issues to draw the Hyborian Age.
Although Jason Aaron is reuniting with the art team of Mahmud Asrar and Matt Wilson for King Conan later this year, "The Life and Death and Conan" marks a glorious return for the Cimmerian at the hands of Marvel, which may abuse the privilege of Robert E. Howard's creations, this series is a great example of how to approach the source material in comic book form.
Following this first volume that began "The Life and Death and Conan", the remaining six issues here conclude the storyline as we still see the Cimmerian adventuring the world beyond his homeland, whilst slowly building up to his apparent death as the king of Aquilonia, in the hands of the two children of the Crimson Witch. Although there is a loose connection with every issue in relation to the upcoming "Death", each issue functions as its own narrative, showing a different side to the eponymous barbarian.
The first issue shows Conan is escorting a few sex workers on an adventure no one could expect. It's fair to say that women haven't always been treated in fantasy, especially during the pulp years where women are overly sexualised with minimum clothing and often depicted as floosies. There is definitely an element of this in the Hyborian Age as the sex workers in this issue look provocative, Conan never takes advantage of them sexually. Although the women are able to take their stand, especially when we reach the climax of the issue, Conan's alliance with them informs his history with love, briefly mentioning the pirate queen Bêlit, whom Conan had a romantic relationship with.
Jason Aaron is clearly having some of the most fun in his career with this series as he may be writing these fantasy adventures involving giant monsters and cleaving, he also knows how to write Conan remains as a compelling character, not because he's some musclebound lunkhead, it's that he is smart and knows how to wield a sword and has fought his way through bloody battle after bloody battle. When asked why he left Cimmeria, it's because there is a world to behold, beyond his imaging.
For every violent action he commits, Conan will face the consequences in years time as the two children of of the Crimson Witch stalk him throughout his many adventures whilst maintaining their youthful innocent exterior. There may be villains, but Aaron provides a playfulness in their villainy as they do squabble like everyday siblings, but there is a love they have with each other as they commit to their revenge on the barbarian that slain their mother and awaken the Red Doom known as Razazel.
As the primary artist of the series, Mahmud Asrar is so good at illustrating atmosphere, detail, and storytelling. There is obviously more to Conan and his world than just monsters and gory battles, but Asrar sure draws them to exquisite effect as depicted in issue #9, in which Conan tries to escape an endless cave and fights the likes of gigantic spiders, man-apes, human-faced serpents, godlike aliens. Compared to Asrar's more polished art, Gerardo Zaffino is rougher, but fits appropriately with #8, where Conan returns to his home to see his grandmother, only to find that the village has been possessed by dark magic. With large panels and an emphasis on shadows that is contrasted with a darker colour palette (thanks to colourist Matt Wilson), I wished Zaffino was given more issues to draw the Hyborian Age.
Although Jason Aaron is reuniting with the art team of Mahmud Asrar and Matt Wilson for King Conan later this year, "The Life and Death and Conan" marks a glorious return for the Cimmerian at the hands of Marvel, which may abuse the privilege of Robert E. Howard's creations, this series is a great example of how to approach the source material in comic book form.
September 15, 2020
This book was phenomenal, focusing on Conan vs Preibus taking revenge for belit and rescuing the maidens, then next issue we return to Cimmeria vs Thoth Amun and then a story of Conan vs the Leviagod (god in the bottom) and the big story being Conan vs Crimson witch vs Razazel and what comes after! It was an epic read as we continue our journey through the hyborian age filled with epic adventures, sword and sorcery, sexy women and Conan travelling to unknown lands and facing off against some of the greatest threats in this age!
December 13, 2020
2.5🌟
Started with a couple of OK 'one shots'. I grew pretty bored by the last issue. Skimming through realized it was more of the same shock violence and meandering. I don't think I'll have my eye on Conan until some new creators take over.
Started with a couple of OK 'one shots'. I grew pretty bored by the last issue. Skimming through realized it was more of the same shock violence and meandering. I don't think I'll have my eye on Conan until some new creators take over.
June 21, 2021
Je to zábavné a skvěle nakreslené, ale ty krátké jednosešitové povídky mi úplně nesedí. Buďto je ten děj uspěchaný a tomu příběhu by slušelo více prostoru (Barbarská láska), nebo to působí, ač je děj uzavřený, jenom jako skvělý úvod či ukázka delšího nedovyprávěného příběhu (Návrat). To je škoda. Mám radši delší propracované příběhy. Alespoň že to celé zastřešuje příběh o Karmínové čarodějce a jejích dětech, který propojuje všech prvních dvanáct Aaronových sešitů. Tento dlouhý příběh vyvrcholí v posledních dvou sešitech, přičemž ten předposlední (U Croma) je takřka geniální a náramně jsem si jej užil.
December 8, 2024
Great story, great art!
April 10, 2021
Pořád dobré, čekal jsem však trochu větší propojení všech sešitů než jen: "Ten Conan ale zažil spoustu dobrodružství." Když se zaměřím na jednotlivý příběhy, tak vlastě spokojenost.
June 30, 2020
É engraçado que essa nova fase de Conan na Marvel foi introduzida pelos recônditos da Casa das ideias através do poder da Feiticeira Escarlate, logo a primeira inimiga que ele enfrenta se chama Bruxa Escarlate. Ela o sequestra, tem um par de filhos gêmeos com ele e quer sacrificá-lo para que ele abra um portal para a chegada do deus maligno Azazel. Conan morre pelas mãos portando facas dos filhos gêmeos e, num mundo idílico, ele é confrontado por sua família e logo em seguida se depara com o todo-poderoso Crom, o deus para o qual nunca dirigiu uma oração, mas sempre esteve levando o seu nome para todas as paragens que já percorreu. Assim, Crom resolve restaurar sua vida mas amaldiçoar o resto dela com sofrimento e uma velhice inglória. Neste volume, os desenhos de Mahmud Asrar parecem menos caprichados, menos detalhados. As cores também não são tão interessantes, mas o roteiros de Aaron deu uma melhorada. Completam as edições desta "fornada de histórias" a linda sequência Conan: Êxodo, toda pintada pelo artista Esaad Ribic, numa história de sobrevivência toda ela sem nenhum diálogo inteligível.
June 3, 2021
I loved The Life and Death of Conan Book One and this book is more of the same. Three Conan solo stories and a three-issue wrap-up of Conan's demise at the hands of the Crimson Witch.
The art continues to be superb and the storytelling world-class (for a high fantasy tale, that is). This is the rare comic adventure that benefits from dense narration. Jason Aaron is a master of grit and Conan is an eminently gritty character. The Razazel storyline is almost a disappointment compared to the one-shots and I still loved it. Only Conan would find aging normally and dully to be a cursed existence. I hope Aaron tells more Conan tales down the line, but these two volumes are perfect for me.
The art continues to be superb and the storytelling world-class (for a high fantasy tale, that is). This is the rare comic adventure that benefits from dense narration. Jason Aaron is a master of grit and Conan is an eminently gritty character. The Razazel storyline is almost a disappointment compared to the one-shots and I still loved it. Only Conan would find aging normally and dully to be a cursed existence. I hope Aaron tells more Conan tales down the line, but these two volumes are perfect for me.
March 31, 2020
I dont like the single short story mode. Just seems a little up and down
May 26, 2020
I wrote in my review of the first volume of this new Conan series that the storytelling seemed artificially inflated and that kind of affected my overall enjoyment of Conan's homecoming to Marvel Comics.
Not that the stories weren't good but the overall plot could've probably been done in one 6 issue arc.
Then came Volume 2 and I was rather surprised to discover that I really got into the individual stories being told in each chapter of the concluding volume of Jason Aaron's storyline.
The art is superb, that's a given. But the stories were just engrossing. Conan battles many a demon, monster and even gods as he is targeted for a long sought revenge by a foe from his long-forgotten past.
It was Conan's battle against a certain god that really stoked my imagination and as this volume brought the 12 part storyline to a finish, I would say that my reservations about its length were put to rest because The Life and Death of Conan ends up being a fascinating exploration of Conan's exploits from a young stripling striking out on his own to becoming the king of Aquilonia.
Not that the stories weren't good but the overall plot could've probably been done in one 6 issue arc.
Then came Volume 2 and I was rather surprised to discover that I really got into the individual stories being told in each chapter of the concluding volume of Jason Aaron's storyline.
The art is superb, that's a given. But the stories were just engrossing. Conan battles many a demon, monster and even gods as he is targeted for a long sought revenge by a foe from his long-forgotten past.
It was Conan's battle against a certain god that really stoked my imagination and as this volume brought the 12 part storyline to a finish, I would say that my reservations about its length were put to rest because The Life and Death of Conan ends up being a fascinating exploration of Conan's exploits from a young stripling striking out on his own to becoming the king of Aquilonia.
November 6, 2021
First off, I always like how writer here occasionally mentions Conan's speed. A man that large that moves that fast...like a cat...me likey.
First story was so tender. Sure, very violent, hey, it's Conan, but still tender.
Then the obligatory zombie story, hey, didn't we read one of those in the first book?? Still awesome though. 😁 Myth more vampiric than zombie-ic though, but, whatever. Still awesome. Conan thinks. We know it, but, they pushed it into our faces once again. Good.
Wanted more backstory on the Red Witch though. Her kids were wonderfully crazy sha 😂 Damn. Very mad children.
The map for when Conan met that god. That was very cool.
A full life. That's what I see here, ending, yet eternal, all you need is just good writers. Good stuff.
First story was so tender. Sure, very violent, hey, it's Conan, but still tender.
Then the obligatory zombie story, hey, didn't we read one of those in the first book?? Still awesome though. 😁 Myth more vampiric than zombie-ic though, but, whatever. Still awesome. Conan thinks. We know it, but, they pushed it into our faces once again. Good.
Wanted more backstory on the Red Witch though. Her kids were wonderfully crazy sha 😂 Damn. Very mad children.
The map for when Conan met that god. That was very cool.
A full life. That's what I see here, ending, yet eternal, all you need is just good writers. Good stuff.
Read
July 21, 2020Wrapping up the epic tale which – spoilers follow, if you're very easily misled – does not in fact see Conan die, or at least not in any permanent fashion. Still, Aaron mostly has the knack of writing the Cimmerian (possibly exempting his unusually chivalrous behaviour with a bevy of beauties – yes, the heterosexuality in Howard's original tales was often deeply unconvincing, but it was no less enthusiastic for all that), and the artists give the Hyborian Age the appropriate mixture of craggy awfulness, ancient grandeur and utter horror (there's one hand demon in particular which left me feeling properly queasy). Above all, there's a scene where Conan takes a typically respectful attitude to communion with his god Crom which might, might, even equal Arnie's prayer to him in the first film.
July 12, 2021
Razazel and the twins were great fun. I enjoyed watching them play with their food as Conan wandered from one death to the next. Can anything kill Conan as long as someone longs for adventure?
July 26, 2020
Conan der Barbar. Die Filme waren Episch. Ob Episch schlecht oder Episch genial sei jedem selbst überlassen. Ich fand es immer sehr Kultik und als die den Comic sah wusste ich ich muss ihn haben.
Die Zeichnungen sind stellenweise sehr kantig und "grob" aber haben auch einiges weiches vorzuweisen. Also eine schöne Bandbreite. Die Farben gefallen mir sehr gut und auch die Story find ich spannend. Ich hätte mir nur etwas mehr "haut" bzw. etwas mehr "Sexiness" gewünscht.
Für mich war es aber trotzdem ein einmaliges Erlebnis und eine geniale Geschichte!
Die Zeichnungen sind stellenweise sehr kantig und "grob" aber haben auch einiges weiches vorzuweisen. Also eine schöne Bandbreite. Die Farben gefallen mir sehr gut und auch die Story find ich spannend. Ich hätte mir nur etwas mehr "haut" bzw. etwas mehr "Sexiness" gewünscht.
Für mich war es aber trotzdem ein einmaliges Erlebnis und eine geniale Geschichte!
December 2, 2021
3.5 Stars.
You know what you are getting (for the most part) when you read a Conan book. A lot of sword violence, hatred against magic, and the echoes of Schwarzenegger's voice in your head... LOL
Highlights:
- Conan goes into a city and hires 5 gorgeous prostitutes to go on a quest with him. He doesn't tell them where they are going or what he needs them to do, and he resists their advances. After many days, they arrive at a port. Conan tells them they need to be gorgeous ladies to present as an offering to a Pirate Captain who wronged him, so that he can get close enough to kill him. He takes out the Captain, but they surprise him by killing the whole crew. Then they celebrate in a bath and bed...
- Conan arrives back in Cimmeria, his homeland. Most of his village is possessed by an evil minion of Thoth- Anon, who wants revenge against Conan (see previous Volume). Conan has to run away and collect his thoughts in order to focus on killing the snake connection and saving the rest of the villagers.
- There is a prophecy that has been said several times to Conan about his death coming from Razazel and the Crimson Witch. This tale is long and complicated but involves two demonic-like children, an encounter against Crom, and fights galore, with all of this taking place years later, as Conan has a son.
Love reading Conan sometimes. Just enough chaos and violence to sate me. LOL
Recommend. This short two Volume set is good.
You know what you are getting (for the most part) when you read a Conan book. A lot of sword violence, hatred against magic, and the echoes of Schwarzenegger's voice in your head... LOL
Highlights:
- Conan goes into a city and hires 5 gorgeous prostitutes to go on a quest with him. He doesn't tell them where they are going or what he needs them to do, and he resists their advances. After many days, they arrive at a port. Conan tells them they need to be gorgeous ladies to present as an offering to a Pirate Captain who wronged him, so that he can get close enough to kill him. He takes out the Captain, but they surprise him by killing the whole crew. Then they celebrate in a bath and bed...
- Conan arrives back in Cimmeria, his homeland. Most of his village is possessed by an evil minion of Thoth- Anon, who wants revenge against Conan (see previous Volume). Conan has to run away and collect his thoughts in order to focus on killing the snake connection and saving the rest of the villagers.
- There is a prophecy that has been said several times to Conan about his death coming from Razazel and the Crimson Witch. This tale is long and complicated but involves two demonic-like children, an encounter against Crom, and fights galore, with all of this taking place years later, as Conan has a son.
Love reading Conan sometimes. Just enough chaos and violence to sate me. LOL
Recommend. This short two Volume set is good.
December 2, 2020
Hot damn, this is, once again, an absolutely beautifully illustrated comic. Asrar once again knocks it out of the park, and the occasional fill-in artists offer work similarly on par.
Aaron has a great understanding of the barbarian/ancient character (no doubt influenced by his long tenure with Thor) and strikes a nice balance of keeping Conan as a unique world that has touches with the wider Marvel universe he now belongs to. The story ends strongly, and I absolutely loved the penultimate issue in which Conan's god, Crom, is just a complete dick. That might be one of my favorite parts of this series: it's fun, and sometimes funny. It's classic, pulpy comic book storytelling with some of the greatest modern artwork on it.
So, why not more stars? It's still a lot of flashback (arguably important to reinforcing aspects of Conan's motivation and character, sure) that continues to be slightly repetitive. I'm ready for a grander story and more sweeping epic from Aaron on the book.
Honestly, though, if you enjoy good ol' fashioned pulp comic action check this out! (No Conan content other than his appearances in Savage Avengers is available on Marvel Unlimited, though. You gotta find the hard copies or buy digitals.)
Aaron has a great understanding of the barbarian/ancient character (no doubt influenced by his long tenure with Thor) and strikes a nice balance of keeping Conan as a unique world that has touches with the wider Marvel universe he now belongs to. The story ends strongly, and I absolutely loved the penultimate issue in which Conan's god, Crom, is just a complete dick. That might be one of my favorite parts of this series: it's fun, and sometimes funny. It's classic, pulpy comic book storytelling with some of the greatest modern artwork on it.
So, why not more stars? It's still a lot of flashback (arguably important to reinforcing aspects of Conan's motivation and character, sure) that continues to be slightly repetitive. I'm ready for a grander story and more sweeping epic from Aaron on the book.
Honestly, though, if you enjoy good ol' fashioned pulp comic action check this out! (No Conan content other than his appearances in Savage Avengers is available on Marvel Unlimited, though. You gotta find the hard copies or buy digitals.)
May 6, 2020
Volume #2 concludes the story arc of Conan's life and death. We finally see the origins of the Crimson Witch and how she gave birth to her insidious twins. We also follow Conan on his adventures and witness how Crimson Witch and her cohorts were never too far away from him waiting for the right moment to use Conan to raise the monster from the deep.
I truly enjoyed the story and especially liked the portrayal of proud, stubborn Conan having his version of encounter-on-the-top-of-the-world. He is truly only one who could find his way back from anywhere through sheer will alone.
Art is great. Covers are again done by Esad Ribic and each story is drawn by a different artists. Styles are definitely different but complementary - for example first story (Conan leading the group of for all and purposes Amazons) is done in a style similar to Ribic's but then there is exquisitely drawn story of Conan's return to Cimmeria. Pure joy for the eyes.
Recommended to all fans of heroic fantasy.
I truly enjoyed the story and especially liked the portrayal of proud, stubborn Conan having his version of encounter-on-the-top-of-the-world. He is truly only one who could find his way back from anywhere through sheer will alone.
Art is great. Covers are again done by Esad Ribic and each story is drawn by a different artists. Styles are definitely different but complementary - for example first story (Conan leading the group of for all and purposes Amazons) is done in a style similar to Ribic's but then there is exquisitely drawn story of Conan's return to Cimmeria. Pure joy for the eyes.
Recommended to all fans of heroic fantasy.
January 8, 2021
Αυτό που είχε ο ήρωας του Ρόμπερτ Χάουαρντ, και ακόμη έχει φανατικούς οπαδούς, ήταν η θέληση για ζωή. Ότι απίθανο και να του συμβαίνει, ο Κιμμέριος δεν παραιτείται με τίποτα. Δε τα παρατάει. Και στο τέλος βγαίνει νικητής. Το ίδιο συμβαίνει και σε αυτήν εδώ την επιστροφή του. Δεν είναι λίγοι αυτοί που αναφέρουν ότι ο Κόναν είναι ξεπερασμένος, ανήκει σε μια άλλη εποχή και απλά έχασε τη μάχη με το χρόνο. Κι όμως, ο αγαπημένος μας Βάρβαρος κερδίζει και αυτή τη μάχη. Επιστρέφει στη Marvel και μας κάνει όλους λίγο πιο χαρούμενους. Τους παλιούς φίλους που περίμεναν καρτερικά την επιστροφή του, αλλά και τους νέους που τώρα γνωρίζουν πως μεταξύ των χρόνων, κατά τους οποίους οι ωκεανοί κατάπιαν την Ατλαντίδα, και των χρόνων της ακμής των γιων των Αρείων υπήρξε μια εποχή που κανείς δεν θα μπορούσε να φανταστεί
August 26, 2025
Like book one, it has great art and fun narratives. Like book one, many of the issues are kind of a seperate story only connected by the Crimson Witch being a threat in the background. Then the last issues finally concluding the narrative with the Crimson Witch and Razazel. However, Razazel was kind of a disappointment for all the build-up he had. Otherwise, like book one, the writing is well done, and is the perfect amount of edgy. Compared to book one, I found the individual issues to be more fun, however, the final issue and the conclusion was slightly anticlimactic. Overall, still very enjoyable.
August 31, 2020
Jason Aaron’s grasp of Conan was far superior that his grasp of Star Wars. This is an absolute must read for fans of the character.
These 12 issues take the barbarian from one adventure to the next while it builds up to the inevitable face off against nether god Razazel. It was fun and badass like Conan is meant to be. His partners in art, Asrar and Wilson bring the book to life beautifully and those Ribic covers are stunning.
Issue #11 was by far my favourite and sees the Cimmerian go against Crom. One of the beat Conan issues I’ve read.
8/10
These 12 issues take the barbarian from one adventure to the next while it builds up to the inevitable face off against nether god Razazel. It was fun and badass like Conan is meant to be. His partners in art, Asrar and Wilson bring the book to life beautifully and those Ribic covers are stunning.
Issue #11 was by far my favourite and sees the Cimmerian go against Crom. One of the beat Conan issues I’ve read.
8/10
November 17, 2020
I enjoy the single stories linked by the main story line in the last few pages of each single volume.
I am torn between how simple and fast the single stories are (Start, Some adventure, End)
The "some adventure" or "bulk of the story" part can vary between fantasy with monsters and different worlds, or be realistic with other tribes and more human adventure.
Overall i think i like the story to end every issue, however the fact that he died and got sent back to earth is a little too much fantasy for me
I give it a 4 for the single stories.
I am torn between how simple and fast the single stories are (Start, Some adventure, End)
The "some adventure" or "bulk of the story" part can vary between fantasy with monsters and different worlds, or be realistic with other tribes and more human adventure.
Overall i think i like the story to end every issue, however the fact that he died and got sent back to earth is a little too much fantasy for me
I give it a 4 for the single stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2020
Mejor este segundo volumen que el primero. Continúa con la narrativa en forma de relatos cortos (contenidos en cada número) con la historia de la muerte de Conan como hilo conector. Esto lo convierte en una montaña rusa, con algunas de esas historias buenas y otras malas, al igual que en el primer tomo. Eso sí, aquí aparecen más dioses y demonios ciclópeos, aquellos típicos de Howard, Lovecraft y sus contemporáneos y sucesores, que es una delicia ver dibujados por Mahmud Asrar.
August 10, 2020
The conclusion of Aaron's first arc to Conan. For a new reader like me, it's like a 2-edged knife. On one hand, I get to have an overview of where Conan has been during his lifetime, but on the other hand it's too much information to focus on. Nevertheless, the creative team behind it is one of my favourite writers as well as the artist. I don't know if I'll follow-up on Conan, though. Enough said, it's well worth the read for a fan!
August 7, 2020
When Jason Aaron wants, and he writes something that isn't tied to anything, he's a monster! And Conan is a perfect character for him. I see a lot of Roy Thomas in here and even Mr. Howard.
And Mahmid Asrar is a genius as well. He's the perfect piece and artist to do this job. He can drawn as many Conan's edition as he wants, 'cause i'm gonna keep reading it.
And Mahmid Asrar is a genius as well. He's the perfect piece and artist to do this job. He can drawn as many Conan's edition as he wants, 'cause i'm gonna keep reading it.
June 25, 2022
Crom spoke of life as a curse. As a withering. A fading. But that was not life as Conan knew it.
And that was not how he would die. Not with so much mystery left in the world. With new adventure always calling.
You know what you are getting in a Conan story and this was full of it- swords and sorcery. Great read!
And that was not how he would die. Not with so much mystery left in the world. With new adventure always calling.
You know what you are getting in a Conan story and this was full of it- swords and sorcery. Great read!
August 9, 2023
Jason Aaron's Conan is still impressive but this drug on a little. I felt the Crimson Witch story was vey good but this second half seemed a step back than the first. Aaron is clearly a big fan of the character and it shows and the Crimson Witch's children were just as formidable as her. Asrar's art is gorgeous. Overall, a good solid read that had a lull or two too many.
June 14, 2020
Read as single issues.
Not quite as good as the first half of this run, but Aaron and Asrar continue to deliver a rollicking tale of the Hyborian Age. If you enjoy sword and sorcery adventures, this is a good one to catch!
Not quite as good as the first half of this run, but Aaron and Asrar continue to deliver a rollicking tale of the Hyborian Age. If you enjoy sword and sorcery adventures, this is a good one to catch!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews