Conan The Barbarian #23 - Titan Comics

CONAN THE BARBARIAN No. 23, September 2025

Despite containing a momentary glimpse of the titular character’s sword-fighting skills early on when Conan just about overcomes a rival sorcerer’s two bodyguards during the dead of night, the vast majority of Jim Zub’s narrative for this particular twenty-two page periodical consists of the barbarian conversing with either Zula, or his arch-nemesis Thoth-Amon. In fact, in many ways the Canadian author arguably appears to be utterly obsessed with penning Robert E. Howard’s literary creation just standing still and listening to all manner of bizarre, god-led machinations and grand schemes for the Hyborian Age’s future; “We move toward a time where lines will be drawn between the weak and the strong.”

By far the biggest (and debatably bemusing) of these dialogue-heavy discussions occurs within Thoth-Amon’s own Inner Sanctum, where Set’s foremost magician rather conveniently explains all of his plans to both the heavily-muscled, black-haired Cimmerian and his shape-shifting friend. To be frank, much of what the beetle-eating warlock spouts doesn’t debatably make all that much sense, though its general gist suggests the Great Serpent’s 'most loyal servant' requires allies to help Stygia bring its foes to heel.

However, as if Zubkavich himself realised that by this point many a bibliophile might have started to slowly nod off, the dark-hearted sorcerer suddenly decides that the heavily-disguised Guardian of the Grasslands might be a threat, and makes a move to eradicate Zula with a truly horrific, spiritual effigy of fang-filled skulls. Admittedly, even though this inexplicable attack comes completely out of the blue, it should – even for a mere instant – jar this comic’s audience awake. But then frustratingly, the owner of the Black Ring of Set completely changes his mind for no rational reason, and even forgives Conan for being about to stab him to death with his sword.

Desperately attempting to make so many of these head-scratching sequences at least attractive to the eye is Fernando Dagnino, who at least manages to imbue the Cimmerian with many of his more well-known physical mannerisms – most notably his uneasiness when in the presence of magic. In addition, colour artist Diego Rodriguez deserves an enthusiastic pat on the back for transforming Thoth-Amon’s private chamber into a genuinely disturbing realm packed full of sinister, serpent-shaped shadows and coiled, green-hued ghosts.

The regular cover art of "CONAN THE BARBARIAN" #23 by Dan Panosian