Conan The Barbarian #21 - Marvel Comics

CONAN THE BARBARIAN No. 21, July 2021

As ‘startling turns’ go, “Marvel Worldwide” were most assuredly correct in their pre-publication blurb that Jim Zub’s plot to “The Ancestors Blessing” would surprise many within the twenty-page periodical’s audience. For whilst the revelation that Heng the Insurgent is actually a soul-sucking demonic ghoul who will selfishly sacrifice the eternal life of his loyal followers comes as no great shock, the hidden agenda of the previously depicted meek Meiwei of Paikang is arguably altogether unseen; “My orders came directly from Di Chai, mystic counsellor to the Emperor himself.”

Furthermore, the Canadian author’s sudden transformation of the mild noblewoman into a magic-user of some formidable might is wonderfully delivered when the unsuspecting cut-throat Li-Fen attempts to once again intimidate the supposedly naïve courtier with her curved knife-blade and winds up being momentarily zombified. In fact, for many a moment the author cleverly intimates that Meiwei may very well be treacherously waiting for just the right opportunity with which to do lasting harm to this comic’s titular character.

Happily however, Zub’s narrative for Issue Twenty One of “Conan The Barbarian” isn’t simply based upon the secretive schemes of the Cimmerian’s female travelling companion, but also contains a fantastically ferocious dollop of dynamic action in the shape of a bungled bandit raid upon a well-guarded treasure caravan travelling “through Wutin Village by dusk tomorrow.” This failed attack really does show just how deadly the Khitai Imperial Guard are when fully-formed up in ranks of armoured spearmen with plenty of eagle-eyed archers at their backs, and similarly establishes just how powerful an antagonist Heng can be when the heinous criminal fully submits to his unholy possession by Kuei Demon-Spirits.

Generously augmenting all this book’s gory combat with plenty of well-pencilled stabbings, beheadings and fiery explosions is Cory Smith. The American artist seems to really hit his creative stride once Conan is badly outnumbered by the Emperor’s well-disciplined soldiers, and does a first-rate job sketching the heavily-muscled hero’s confrontation against a seemingly unstoppable immortal insurrectionist who, buoyed by a series of stunningly sketched maelstroms, is persistently surrounded by all manner of swirling supernatural winds, disconcertingly dreadful open mouths and disintegrating vapours.

Writer: Jim Zub, Artist: Cory Smith, and Colorist: Israel Silva