Conan the Barbarian #13: People Champion

The start of a new adventure is always a precarious position to be. The direction of your first issue, especially in an established universe, sets the tone for the whole story to come and this is something that writers often stumble on. This has never, however, been a problem for the writers who work on Conan. It’s no secret that Conan the Barbarian is one of my favorite characters in any universe. It was with great pleasure that I watched this swaggering warrior saunter onto the stage again. If there’s one thing I love about the lands of Hyperboria though, and there are many things I love about it, its the colorful backdrops that we often find Conan dropped into an unknown place where the only language he understands is the language of drink, woman, and violence. Conan is a character that needs little outside of his strength and guile and we clearly see him tested here as he is thrust into a deadly situation that he does not altogether understand. Conan finds himself in a tight spot, the plaything of a strange god, and trapped with others he does not entirely trust. Will this be the end of the barbarian legend?

The art and story direction is reminiscent of savage tales of the past and that was just fine with me. Jim Zub is certainly no stranger to the Conan universe and his masterful writing will lead you on a journey through savage worlds and brutal locals. I was reminded, fondly, of the old Conan tales from the mid-’70s and with every twist and turn I began to regret that it ever had to end. The story itself was never dull and held my attention from start to finish with Roge Antonio’s beautiful artwork immersing me anew into a familiar world and familiar landscape. The world of Conan, as many have shown, does not have to be a beautiful one but the array of depth and color brought by the artists turn what could easily be a dark and brutish world into a vibrant spectacle that only helps entrench the reader further in the lands of Hyberboria. The cliffhanger was well done as well and I can’t wait for the next issue.