Conan the Barbarian #14: Glorious Dead

Conan #14 brings us back to the Crucible and back to a landscape of constant action and constant danger. Writer Jim Zub has crafted a dark and dangerous world that Conan traverses like a flea across its favorite hound. Conan never feels lost in this labyrinth, never out of his element, and he uses his barbarian ways to put aside challenge after challenge. The story is far from predictable and the titular barbarian is never quite out of danger. His growing ease, if not friendship, with Delian is interesting to watch as is his interactions with his fellow champions. It would be very easy for Conan to encounter only hostile savages, many of them certainly appear hostile or grotesque, but Zub has crafted a collection of interesting characters to accompany Conan on this journey. The character of Challi- Mai is also an interesting change from many godly antagonists of Conan. Unlike Set, the otherworldly snake that often dogs him, Challi-Mai seems to passively drive our hero onward, inviting him with test after test to trap himself in his expansive web.

Roge Antonio and Israel Silva create a dark yet enticing environment for Conan and his new companions to trek through as they make their way closer to whatever awaits them in the end. The muted pallet, mixed with brief and sudden flashes of color, make for an often thrilling and immersive backdrop for this hack and slash Conan adventure. Antonio brings Zub’s story to life with thrilling scenes that keep you hooked well past the final panel.