‘Conan the Barbarian #18’ – Zub, Brine, Canola (Titan Comics, Heroic Sigantures)


I’m on call today so am making the most of it (I can’t be too far away from my work laptop and wi-fi connection) by staying indoors, even though it’s lovely outside, and trying to catch up on some reading. Okay, catching up on some telly as well :o)

Who knows, today may even be the day when I finish ‘Into the Narrowdark’ but for now, lets talk a little bit about ‘Conan the Barbarian #18’ which I picked up during a brief stop in Forbidden Planet the other day. I’m still very much about collecting the trades (try as I might, I always forget to pick up single issues) but I needed some reading for the train home so, here we are :o)

On the road of Kings… While resupplying in the Shemite coastal city of Kyros, Conan of Cimmeria and Bêlit, Queen of the Black Coast, sought refuge and respite at an inn known as the Hidden Haven. There, the duo indulged in drink and nostalgia, recalling their charged first meeting before retiring to the privacy of their room. But their presence was noted by a band of sneakthieves who invaded the couple’s ‘paired nest’ – only to discover the Cimmerian and Queen of the Black Coast are more predator than prey. After witnessing Conan and Bêlit brutally dispatch her companions, the final thief desperately bartered for her life, offering tantalizing information for an upcoming job: a heist to steal a Stygian relic. Where Conan sees a foolish gamble, Bêlit sees opportunity: a chance to seize the spoils themselves and spill Stygian blood…

What we have here, in #18, is a sweet little slice of sub-plot, clearly part of something larger but self-contained enough that someone like me can pick it up and have some fun reading it in the meantime (before finally picking up the trade and getting the whole story). It’s very basic and straightforward (just a confrontation really) but Conan and Bêlit carry that sub-plot through sheer force of will and character. And that is just the way any Sword and Sorcery should be, especially Sword and Sorcery with Conan in it, so I’m happy that this issue does exactly what it’s meant to, and does it well.

Coming off the back of reading ‘The Age Unconquered’, Danica Brine’s art took a little while to get into but that’s on me rather than the artwork which complements the story, and setting, perfectly. All in all, a very entertaining read for the train ride home :o)

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