Conan The Barbarian #25 - Marvel Comics [Part One]

CONAN THE BARBARIAN No. 25, November 2021

“Celebrating three hundred issues of Conan The Barbarian”, as well as “the return of Belit”, this rather large anthology probably looked particular enticing when initially conceived by Editor Mark Basso, with its mixture of popular periods and well-liked characters from the Cimmerian’s all-encompassing adventures. However, as thirty-page periodicals go there is arguably little within this comic’s four separate storylines which is either memorable or even actually makes much sense; “Were they a reminder and a warning? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Only the gods know for certain. We cannot fear what has been or what may never be…”

To begin with series regular Jim Zub pens a debatably bizarre tale concerning Conan and “the Queen of the Seas” fighting both a younger and older version of the Hyborian Age hero deep within the bowels of a dilapidated temple. Just what the purpose of the ancient place and the two apparitions its giant metallic spheres create is never explained, and resultantly seems to have been solely manufactured to pit Belit against a supposedly inexperienced horn-helmeted Cimmerian, whilst the current incarnation of the black-haired pirate battles the future King of Aquilonia.

Admittedly, such confrontations as to who would win such skirmishes are just the sort of thing devotees of Robert E. Howard’s sword and sorcery character might endlessly debate. But it still seems odd to actually see such amateur fan fiction being explored within this particular book, especially when the Canadian author has Conan beheading his future-self after purposely receiving a double-handed axe blow to the forearm so as to “move in and disarm” his opponent. Ordinarily such a viciously strong chop, prodigiously pencilled by Cory Smith, would sever the entire limb. Yet in this narrative, the barbarian barely feels the blade nor seemingly suffers any noticeable blood loss from the calamitous injury.

Far more enjoyable, though perhaps equally as motiveless, is Larry Hama’s short-lived, claret-stained story set just “after the events of the Frost Giant’s Daughter”. This sense-shattering sword-fest simply portrays an already gore-caked Cimmerian brutally slaying three over-confident Vanir who misguidedly see the mutilated corpses surrounding their enemy as a sign he’ll be an easy victim of their spears. Needless to say Paul Davidson soon superbly sketches the fur-clad rearguard being literally hacked to pieces, and ends the yarn with the previously stranded, snow-bound foot-soldier now riding one of his attackers’ well-nourished horses.

The regular cover art of "CONAN THE BARBARIAN" #25 by Geoff Shaw & Edgar Delgado