Conan the Barbarian #24: Lust and Indulgence That Can Only Be Billed by Days of High Adventure

Zub and Smith found a way to create a prequel of the classic Conan story, Queen of the Black Coast, that ties seamlessly with the original Robert E. Howard story. You don’t need to know the classic to enjoy this issue. Many know Conan for his land-based adventures, but he has a long history on the seas as a pirate. Conan the Barbarian #24 shows us the younger Conan learning that the sea should never be underestimated.

B-story

Something is coming for Conan. It’s marked the Cimmerian, and he may be powerless to stop it.

The Words

Jim Zub is writing tales in the spirit of Robert E. Howard. I really like the narrator aspect of Conan the Barbarian #24. While Cory Smith’s artwork shows us the perils of sailing the ocean, the narrator word balloons elevate the story giving it an epic-ness. Every character’s dialogue is pitch-perfect with the mandatory number of “By Crom’s” throughout.

The Art

There are a lot of great panels in Conan the Barbarian #24. Among them are the ship fighting against the ocean and the storm. The waves keep getting bigger threatening to capsize the vessel. Israel Silva’s colors add the mood. As the Crow (Conan’s ship) gets deeper and deeper into the storm, the colors become more blue and green. The water’s colors consume Conan’s world. The moment the storm breaks, Silva’s color palette returns to normal. I want the Belit full-page as a poster. Behold the Queen of the Black Coast!

Themes

This month we’re playing with man versus nature and one’s ability to deny destiny. There have been many good stories and movies about a man fighting against the ocean. The water and storms can mix to create a nightmare scenario for any hero. Some will die. Others like Conan will pit his warrior’s spirit against nature every time.

Naogu gives Conan a difficult time for bringing trouble wherever he walks. Conan #24 takes this a step further and presents us with the gods messing with Conan and setting him up for something bigger.

World Building

Fans of the original Conan the Barbarian movie will appreciate Naogu. He reminds me of the narrator of that movie: his look, how he acts, and the way his magic works. It’s a nice connection.
Fans of the novels will like the Easter egg reference to Gods of the North.

Who’s in this Issue

• Captain Hu
• Conan
• Naogu (navigator, sorcerer)
• Belit

Favorite Quote

“No word or spell can stop it. No defense against destiny’s call.” Naogu to Conan

Who will like It?

If you are a fan of Belit, you must buy this issue. I do my best to avoid spoilers and was pleasantly surprised with the full-page introduction to the Queen of the Black Coast.

On the Cover

The primary cover by Geoff Shaw is a good one featuring Conan battling the storm.

We have additional cover by Roberto De La Torre and Frank D’armata. I’m not sure what it has to do with our story, but it looks great.

The Big Question

Something or someone is playing with Conan’s fate. Who or what is it?

I Need More

If you are unfamiliar with Belit, there are a few sources to review.

• Librivox’s recording of Queen of the Black Coast
• Marvel’s 2019 Age of Conan: Belit series