Conan The Barbarian #25 - Titan Comics

CONAN THE BARBARIAN No. 25, November 2025

Despite an arguably slow start to this “spectacular extra-sized twenty-fifth issue”, and a rather worrying insistence by its Canadian author to simply depict a series of nostalgic-flavoured flashbacks featuring some of Conan’s earliest adventures, “The Nomad” eventually takes on an intriguing life all of its own, and actually ends on a rather clever note that will surely have many a reader returning to this comic’s opening page for a re-read. Indeed, Jim Zub’s plan to craft a mysterious, almost hypnotic, white-skinned wanderer as the actual chronicler who pens the Cimmerian’s numerous exploits throughout the Hyborian Age is really well executed, and soundly sells the notion that the hooded wanderer’s gift of immortality to Aquilonia’s monarch is far more complex than merely making the aged King physically exist beyond the norm.

Furthermore, once the Animex Honorary Award-winner steers his ship away from merely retreading Robert E. Howard’s original short stories such as “The Frost-Giant’s Daughter”, the mix of old monsters and new predicaments proves rather exhilarating – especially when it comes to the ape-like Thak crucifying the barbarian whilst the terrifying Satha the Old One evilly watches on; “Life’s blood-rich wine still stings my palate, and I have not yet had my fill.”

Also well worthy of a mention, and a revisit, is the tension gradually built up by the disconcerting presence of the traveller before he ‘strikes’ during a grand feast. Admittedly, such is the patience shown by this book’s writer to reach this point in his narrative that a fair few bibliophiles might start to get a little tired of all the apprehension supposedly filling Conan’s royal courtiers. But with hindsight, the disquiet of Pallantides, the outrage of Publius, and loving concern of Zenobia, all help establish just how serious the situation is whilst the “tattered man” dwells within the grand gates of Tarantia.

Lastly, much of this “fully painted” periodical’s success also rests upon the shoulders of Alex Horley, whose artwork genuinely captures all the rich, colourfully vibrant life a sword and sorcery fan might envisage when visiting Howard’s Flower of the West. Of particular note has to be the illustration on canvas of this tale’s ‘antagonist’ dutifully approaching the Capital of Aquilonia, with the diminutive figure being absolutely dwarfed by the city’s huge walls and ornate entranceway.

The regular cover art of "CONAN THE BARBARIAN" #25 by Alex Horley