Conan: Battle Of The Black Stone - Titan Comics #4

CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE No. 4, January 2025

Having made the shockingly bold decision to kill off this mini-series’ titular character in the preceding instalment, many a bibliophile was probably a bit perplexed that Jim Zub’s opening gambit for Issue Four of “Conan: Battle Of The Black Stone” was to quickly back-peddle on the Cimmerian’s brutal death, and quickly get the barbarian back on his sandaled feet. Indeed, the Canadian author’s decision to have the Sword and Sorcery adventurer shake off his numerous mortal wounds courtesy of Professor John Kirowan sacrificially stabbing out his own left eye with a knife, is easily as bizarre a plot-twist as the act of physical mutilation is disconcertingly gratuitous.

Furthermore, the fictional scholar of the Cthulhu Mythos doesn’t appear to suffer any ill-effects of his self-harm. But instead, uses the traumatic wound to help guide his team-mates straight to the source of the black stone’s power – and somewhat cynically rather neatly bring this comic’s pulse-pounding finale to a semi-satisfying conclusion within its limited page count; “Like Odin the Norseman, I asked for insight… A way to see paths of power normally closed to mortal minds.”

Seemingly just as contrived is this book’s rather inconsistent ending, which sees some of Robert E. Howard’s creations completely forget about their exploits in a Hyborian Age jungle, whilst others haphazardly carry their injuries/disintegrations ever onwards. These disconcerting discrepancies are perhaps best seen with the aforementioned Kirowan and his semi-regular partner. Hurled forward in time to when they first encountered El Borak in his nightclub, neither John Conrad or Francis Xavier Gordon (for that matter) appear to have any recollection that they died horribly during this publication's run, and yet the poor professor is depicted wearing a black patch over his lost eye.

Arguably far more successful than the Animex Honorary Award-winner’s awkwardly erratic storytelling is Jonas Scharf’s first-rate pencilling, which definitely adds plenty of adrenalin-fuelled action to the final battle. Coupled with some excellent colour work by Jao Canola, whose ghastly, green-hued spirits practically leap-off every panel in which they feature, the German illustrator’s artwork completely captivates the reader – to the point where the audience can actually hear Conan’s death-defying war-cry as he starts slaughtering the Picts protecting their demonic god with his deadly sword.

The regular cover art of "CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE" #4 by Thomas Nachlik

Conan: Battle Of The Black Stone - Titan Comics #3

CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE No. 3, December 2024

Somehow managing to make all of Robert E. Howard’s creations sound spookily convincing, as if their dialogue was actually penned by “the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre” himself, Jim Zub’s narrative for this “epic new Conan Event from Heroic Signatures and Titan Comics” should have gone down very well with any readers even remotely familiar with the late lamented Texan’s considerable cast of characters. In fact, some bibliophiles might actually feel a little disappointed when the giant-sized, unspeakably evil nightmare that has been following the central protagonists is once again conjured up from beyond time, and brings the group’s fascinating conversations amongst one another to a bloody end.

Fortunately, what follows also appears to quite wonderfully expound all the virtues of Solomon Kane, Dark Agnes de Chastillon, John Conrad and John Kirowan, as the unlikely party of adventurers pit both their brains and brawn against a seemingly unstoppable foe from the past. This confrontation is incredibly well-written by the Canadian author, and genuinely taps into the highly inquisitive nature of Howard’s occult professor as he is irresistibly drawn “to a mysterious eye symbol etched in black stone”, having previously been depicted fretting over just how believable his hastily-scrawled notes would be once he’d returned to his own 'modern-day' time-line.

Just as enthralling though, is the ill-fated Sixteenth-Century “Sword Woman”, who credibly allows her infamous short temper to get the better of her, and impetuously decides to challenge the cyclopean monster one-on-one, whilst being armed with nothing more than a fragile-looking fencing blade. In many ways this incredibly one-sided skirmish is arguably more impactive than Kirowan’s tearful loss of his beloved bespectacled friend, as the French fighter’s gratuitous demise disappointingly brings any notion of a lasting relationship with Kane to a very sudden, shocking end; “If we make it back alive, perhaps I’ll seek out your elder wisdom and we’ll smile at the follies of our youth.”

Also well-deserving of a pat on the back for this twenty-two page periodical’s success must be “Jaunty Jonas Scharf” and “Jumping Jao Canola” – who together combine their pencilling and colour-work to craft a highly atmospheric Pictland Jungle, west of Conajohara. Of course, the creative pair’s highlight comes with the aforementioned scraps between Conrad, Dark Agnes and the Beast from Beyond. However, the haunted look upon Kirowan’s previously confident facial features is absolutely first-rate, as is the palpable fury etched upon de Chastillon’s entire physique whilst slashing away at her apparently immortal foe.

The regular cover art of "CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE" #3 by Liam Sharp

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

Conan: Battle Of The Black Stone - Titan Comics #1

CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE No. 1, October 2024

There shouldn’t be much doubt to anyone reading this “epic new Conan event from Heroic Signatures and Titan Comics” that Jim Zub is quite masterfully manipulating many of Robert E. Howard’s mightiest creations towards some devilish end game like an in-form chess master. In fact, the way the Canadian author manages to quite quickly imbed the likes of Solomon Kane, El Borak, Dark Agnes de Chastillon, and even invalid writer James Allison into this twenty-two page, shadow-laden supernatural storyline is truly impressive; “She closed her eyes and saw a sign. A mark upon her soul. How can she trust her wits or will in the face of such uncontrollable fury.?”

Somewhat frustratingly though, such devotion to giving this book’s considerable cast quite so much spotlight also means that the periodical’s pacing is debatably a bit disconcertingly choppy in places – such as when a certain “Tudor-period Puritan adventurer” is drawn to the sigil within the space of a handful of panels, or a dumbfounded Dark Agnes apparently slaughters someone in the wilds, east of Grenoble, without any memory of why she has done so. These short-lived sequences may well generate a sense of intrigue or mystery within some bibliophiles. But in all likelihood the majority of readers would probably have preferred to have more closely followed the Cimmerian’s exploits in the savage lands of the Picts, or Professor John Kirowan’s superbly atmospheric visit to a salubrious speakeasy in 1936 Chicago.

Furthermore, the handling of Francis Xavier Gordon, and apparent horrific demise of Allison at the publication’s conclusion, may well perturb many a fan of Howard’s original literary works. El Borak’s portrayal as a dishonest heavy-drinker, who shakes at the mere mention of the aforementioned occult sign etched in black stone doesn’t ring particularly true with the “Texan gunfighter from El Paso who had travelled the world and settled in Afghanistan” penned by the late, great father of Sword and Sorcery. Admittedly, the American adventurer is now a much older, presumably less-audacious man, who relies upon his past exploits to fund his ‘retirement’. Yet, it would surely have been more in character for him to stern-facedly warn his guests as to the deadly nature of their enquiry, rather than cowardly deny having ever “seen that thing before.”

Quite possibly this comic’s biggest hook therefore lies in the layouts of “Jaunty Jonas Scharf”, whose raw energy genuinely adds to the sheer physical presence of Conan whenever the barbarian makes an appearance. Furthermore, the smell of cigarette smoke, alcohol and ancient artefacts is truly palpable from the pencils depicting Gordon’s covert club, and helps make the predominantly sedentary setting both believable and thoroughly enthralling.

The regular cover art of "CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE" #1 by Gerado Zaffino

Conan The Barbarian: Free Comic Book Day 2024 - Titan Comics

CONAN THE BARBARIAN: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2024, May 2024

Evidently launching an event “which will roll out through late Summer and into the Fall”, this “all-new” Free Comic Book Day one-shot certainly seems to contain all the elements needed to prove a successful draw for devotees of Robert E. Howard’s creations. Indeed, it’s difficult to think of another twelve-page periodical which contains quite so many personalities previously penned by “the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre.”

Perhaps understandably leading this formidable roster is the late great novelist’s Conan the Barbarian, who is portrayed as valiantly fighting off a senseless suicidal Pict assault upon the freshly-established Aquilonian province of Conajohara. This ferocious skirmish, proficiently pencilled by “Jaunty Jonas Scharf”, is as blood-soaked as it well-written, and enjoyably depicts one of those rare moments where the black-haired Cimmerian actually faces a human opponent whose sheer physicality actually gets him to momentarily pause in his death-dealing; “Trees can be cut -- and my axe stands ready.”

Regrettably though, this gratuitous confrontation all-too suddenly concludes with the victorious titular character involuntarily recollecting his devilishly-tainted tales as witnessed in “Titan Comics” current ongoing series. Admittedly, in many ways this publication is just a blatant advertisement “to reach thousands of new and lapsed readers” anyway, so a summary of what an ill-informed bibliophile might have missed when Howard’s heavily-muscled mercenary first glimpsed the multi-tentacled ‘unspeakable evil beneath the dark waters of the past’ should perhaps be expected.

What comes next however is a total surprise, as Jim Zub’s narrative shows that the evil sigil seen by Conan hanging around his dead foe’s neck also haunts the likes of Solomon Kane, Dark Agnes De Chastillon, El Borak, Professor John Kirowan, and even disabled Twentieth-Century author James Allison – whose mysterious disappearance at the hands of some unseen monster conjured up by his imagination neatly bookends the comic. This notion of a single “Howardverse” won't be anything new to those familiar with the “Weird Tales” contributor's tales, as all of the stories concerning Allison are based upon the man recollecting his ancestor’s past experiences during the end of the Hyborian Age. Yet somewhat worryingly, such a potential mass-merging of so many genres into a single, over-arching plot debatably somewhat smacks of being ‘fan fiction’ as opposed to a serious continuation of the pulp fictionist’s numerous notable works.

Writer: Jim Zub, Artist: Jonas Scharf, and Color Artist: Jao Canola