Conan: Battle Of The Black Stone - Titan Comics #2

CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE No. 2, November 2024

Considering that Jim Zub already has the entire cast of characters created by Robert E. Howard to utilise as best he can for this mini-series’ lengthy storyline, his decision to still crowbar a Gurian tribeswoman of his own making into the already over-populated mix must have perturbed some within this comic’s audience – and potentially smacks of a little hubris creeping into this project..? Sure, the savage fighter’s sudden appearance from out of no-where certainly helps ramp up the publication’s pulse-pounding pace as she viciously wounds a multi-limbed monstrosity who is mercilessly murdering as many occupants of the Wanderer’s Club as it can catch. But surely the likes of Dark Agnes de Chastillon, the adventuress Valeria, or even Red Sonya of Rogatino making a timely entrance would have been far more in keeping with this ‘dedicated event to Howard’s literary works’, rather than one of the Canadian author’s concoctions - especially when it appears evident that at least three of Howard’s fantasy figures would have fatally fallen if not for the spear-slayer’s intervention.

Similarly as disconcerting is debatably the Web Cartoonists’ Choice Award-winner’s decision to grotesquely kill-off a badly debilitated Francis Xavier Gordon, having robbed the once mighty El Borak of his famous physical speed through a combination of heavy drinking and age. Indeed, unlike the rest of the sword and sorcery maestro’s handiworks, the Texan gunfighter from El Paso is shown as being far past his prime, foul-mouthed and something of a burden to his comrades-in-arms once wounded; “Mister Gordon’s condition is unstable and getting worse! I fear he’s having a cardiac arrest!”

Happily however, Zub does appear to give the reader some notion as to how formidable an explorer "The Swift" was when he travelled throughout the Arabian Desert during 1919 A.D., by means of an incredibly well-penned flashback sequence. Deftly depicting Francis utilising his trademark sharp-shooting against the seemingly self-same demon he’d face in his later years, this sense-shattering sequence should also completely catch a fair few onlookers off-guard with the confrontation’s cataclysmic conclusion.

Lastly, Jonas Scharf and Jao Canola’s artistic contribution to this twenty-four page periodical cannot be overlooked, as their pencilling and colours bring even some of the script’s less-convincing elements to vivid life. Of particular note is the horrified wonder and fear etched across the faces of Howard’s heroes as they face down the terrifying foe hunting their souls through time, as well as the aforementioned insight into El Borak’s battle, which somehow imbues the moustached man carrying a curved scimitar with all the confidence and bravery a pulp fiction fan would expect from someone who lives exclusively upon their wits and physical prowess.

The regular cover art of "CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE" #2 by Roberto De La Torre