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Conan: Book of Thoth #1-4
Conan: The Book of Thoth and Other Stories
The horrifying origin of Conan the Barbarian's greatest adversary - the dreaded sorcerer Thoth-Amon! In the dank alleys of a decaying city, one beggar boy conjures visions of a future where the rich cower in fear of his terrible power! Witness Thoth-Amon's rise from the squalor of the streets through the priestly ranks of Ibis to the heights of evil! Plus, a look back into the past of the Barbarian! As warlord Khalar Zym sets out on a quest to find the mythical Mask of Acheron - an ancient artifact that will bring his beloved back to life - he thinks nothing of destroying a village in northern Cimmeria. But one boy born of battle survives Zym's attack - and years later, their paths are destined to cross once more!
COLLECTING: CONAN: BOOK OF THOTH (2006) 1-4, CONAN THE BARBARIAN: THE MASK OF ACHERON (2011) 1
COLLECTING: CONAN: BOOK OF THOTH (2006) 1-4, CONAN THE BARBARIAN: THE MASK OF ACHERON (2011) 1
232 pages, Paperback
Published April 14, 2020
About the author
Kurt Busiek
1,851 books627 followersKurt 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,
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,
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 17, 2022
I wasn't as keen on the story or the artwork here compared to the other Dark Horse stories.
June 21, 2024
This was a little below par for Conan comics. The Book of Thoth, however, didn't really feature Conan, but was instead the origin story of arguably his greatest villain, Thoth Amon. It's not bad, and Kelly Jones artwork is good, but I think Thoth Amon worked better without an origin story. Some villains are scarier when their past is a mystery.
The second story is basically an adaptation of the Conan film starring Jason Momoa. It's not the best adaptation, however.
Not bad, just didn't quite work for me.
The second story is basically an adaptation of the Conan film starring Jason Momoa. It's not the best adaptation, however.
Not bad, just didn't quite work for me.
January 5, 2021
This one was a mixed bag for me. Both stories contained in this volume worked on one level (story and art respectively) and failed on other (art and story respectively).
First, Book of Thoth - this is origin story of one of the Conan's greatest antagonists, wizard Toth-Amon of Stygia. We follow him from his early days of youth in a problematic family with abusing father and [for all means and purposes] no-mother. Only person he has any love towards is his sister. Living in extreme poverty and forced by his father to beg and rob passer-byes in the street he is more than willing to grab first opportunity to achieve fame and fortune even if it means killing his friend and then orchestrating complete mayhem in Stygia to dark monstrous creature from the aeons past - Set. During this process Toth-Amon will slowly lose all of his humanity and soon turn his back to all people he loved. But his eternal hunger for power will be even too much for him and it will take rather unlikely allies to save his skin.
Story-wise this was excellent story, with powers of light and darking fighting through their avatars on Earth, population that gets pushed toward darkness thanks to thoth-Amon's actions used to push Stygians more and more to the brink until finally they can do nothing else but turn towards the cosmic darkness for safety.
Art is .... lets say not my cup of tea. This type of art is something Mignola is very good at and he makes it look very easy but believe me drawing characters on a high abstract level using only geometrical shapes and shade is very very complex thing and here it just did not work for me. While covers and some wide-shots truly look awesome rest of story did not click with me.
On the other hand second story - Mask of Acheron - had very decent art but story was ..... man. I might be wrong but this one seems o be comic adaptation of last Conan movie. Last I remember i did enjoy that movie but this story seems to be missing some of the pages. I dont know if it was rushed or actually missing story parts but it just jumps from one point to another without any explanation whatsoever. Weird.....
So as a whole mixed bag. But for me even with these .... issues? .... it was an enjoyable ride, especially the Book of Toth.
If you are fan of Conan give this one a shot but it might be good for you to first check art on the Net to see if it will sit well with you. Because lets not forget, comics are primarily bought for visual art.
First, Book of Thoth - this is origin story of one of the Conan's greatest antagonists, wizard Toth-Amon of Stygia. We follow him from his early days of youth in a problematic family with abusing father and [for all means and purposes] no-mother. Only person he has any love towards is his sister. Living in extreme poverty and forced by his father to beg and rob passer-byes in the street he is more than willing to grab first opportunity to achieve fame and fortune even if it means killing his friend and then orchestrating complete mayhem in Stygia to dark monstrous creature from the aeons past - Set. During this process Toth-Amon will slowly lose all of his humanity and soon turn his back to all people he loved. But his eternal hunger for power will be even too much for him and it will take rather unlikely allies to save his skin.
Story-wise this was excellent story, with powers of light and darking fighting through their avatars on Earth, population that gets pushed toward darkness thanks to thoth-Amon's actions used to push Stygians more and more to the brink until finally they can do nothing else but turn towards the cosmic darkness for safety.
Art is .... lets say not my cup of tea. This type of art is something Mignola is very good at and he makes it look very easy but believe me drawing characters on a high abstract level using only geometrical shapes and shade is very very complex thing and here it just did not work for me. While covers and some wide-shots truly look awesome rest of story did not click with me.
On the other hand second story - Mask of Acheron - had very decent art but story was ..... man. I might be wrong but this one seems o be comic adaptation of last Conan movie. Last I remember i did enjoy that movie but this story seems to be missing some of the pages. I dont know if it was rushed or actually missing story parts but it just jumps from one point to another without any explanation whatsoever. Weird.....
So as a whole mixed bag. But for me even with these .... issues? .... it was an enjoyable ride, especially the Book of Toth.
If you are fan of Conan give this one a shot but it might be good for you to first check art on the Net to see if it will sit well with you. Because lets not forget, comics are primarily bought for visual art.
July 12, 2024
"I live, I love, I slay, and I am content."
The first edition of this book (Dark Horse, 2006) contains the 4-issue Book of Thoth miniseries. The current reprint (Marvel, 2020) also contains the bonus one-shot "The Mask of Acheron".
Most of the Conan material from the Dark Horse years 2004-2017 has been collected into the Epic Collection trade paperbacks, which runs to 10 volumes. However, some of the miniseries and one-shots are omitted, so I am delving into out-of-print collections to complete the series.
Book of Thoth (2006)
In the original Robert E. Howard stories, Thoth-amon is Conan's primary adversary, even though the two never meet face to face. The same is also true in the Dark Horse incarnation of the comics. In the comics, Thoth-amon also plays a key role in the frame story of the first fifty issues.
I was initially excited to learn the sorcerer's origin story, but Kurt Busiek's script adds little of interest or resonance to the character. Thoth is an abused child-beggar who is willing to lie, steal, or kill to better his lot. Once accepted into the temple of Ibis, he betrays the other acolytes and the High Priest to channel the power of the ancient evil empire Acheron. He manipulates the succession of Stygia's royal line. He reinstitutes the cult of Set. He reanimates Xaltotun (from Hour of the Dragon). He generally just does boring villain things.
The primary purpose of this story seems to be to explain Thoth-amon's feud with Kalanthes, the priest of Ibis, a minor character who appears in Conan #12-14.
"The Mask of Acheron" (2011)
This is the comic book adaptation of the 2011 film reboot of Conan the Barbarian. It should have been an excellent movie. Jason Momoa brings the same brawn and self-deprecating humor that Arnold Schwarzenegger brought to the role in the 1970's, plus Momoa is a better actor. Also, the special effects are pretty good.
The problem is the script is slow, boring, and trite. There is too much emphasis on the father-daughter villains rather than on Conan himself. All those flaws are present in the comic as well.
Bonus features include an article about the history Acheron and alternate cover art by Kelley Jones.
The first edition of this book (Dark Horse, 2006) contains the 4-issue Book of Thoth miniseries. The current reprint (Marvel, 2020) also contains the bonus one-shot "The Mask of Acheron".
Most of the Conan material from the Dark Horse years 2004-2017 has been collected into the Epic Collection trade paperbacks, which runs to 10 volumes. However, some of the miniseries and one-shots are omitted, so I am delving into out-of-print collections to complete the series.
Book of Thoth (2006)
In the original Robert E. Howard stories, Thoth-amon is Conan's primary adversary, even though the two never meet face to face. The same is also true in the Dark Horse incarnation of the comics. In the comics, Thoth-amon also plays a key role in the frame story of the first fifty issues.
I was initially excited to learn the sorcerer's origin story, but Kurt Busiek's script adds little of interest or resonance to the character. Thoth is an abused child-beggar who is willing to lie, steal, or kill to better his lot. Once accepted into the temple of Ibis, he betrays the other acolytes and the High Priest to channel the power of the ancient evil empire Acheron. He manipulates the succession of Stygia's royal line. He reinstitutes the cult of Set. He reanimates Xaltotun (from Hour of the Dragon). He generally just does boring villain things.
The primary purpose of this story seems to be to explain Thoth-amon's feud with Kalanthes, the priest of Ibis, a minor character who appears in Conan #12-14.
"The Mask of Acheron" (2011)
This is the comic book adaptation of the 2011 film reboot of Conan the Barbarian. It should have been an excellent movie. Jason Momoa brings the same brawn and self-deprecating humor that Arnold Schwarzenegger brought to the role in the 1970's, plus Momoa is a better actor. Also, the special effects are pretty good.
The problem is the script is slow, boring, and trite. There is too much emphasis on the father-daughter villains rather than on Conan himself. All those flaws are present in the comic as well.
Bonus features include an article about the history Acheron and alternate cover art by Kelley Jones.
September 2, 2024
A really good story for Thoth Amon. One of the few stories that does include Conan at all. I liked the appearance of Xaltotun and the long road the corruption of Thoth Amon. Really good story.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews