Conan: Serpent War #2 - Marvel Comics

CONAN: SERPENT WAR No. 2, February 2020

Captivatingly pairing up this comic’s unlikely cast across two different time periods in their combined defiance against the Elder Gods, Jim Zub’s script for Issue Two of “Conan: Serpent War” probably pleased the vast majority of its 22,420 readers in December 2019. Indeed, the Canadian author’s development of Solomon Kane’s burgeoning relationship with Moon Knight makes the deadly duo’s escapades in England 1584 A.D. utterly compelling, and strongly suggests that the partnership could plausibly work in a future title together if penned with the same liveliness; “Slow down, Big Hat. I’m not with them. If you were fighting snake guys, then I think we’re on the same side.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly considering the strong-willed characters concerned, the same mutual respect does not appear all that forthcoming with Conan of Cimmeria and Agnes De Chastillon though, who could best be described as being prickly with one another. This hostility doesn’t admittedly manifest itself to the point where the two swashbucklers trade sword-strokes, but the Sixteenth-Century Frenchwoman’s somewhat infuriating ability to see a chauvinistic slight towards her in everything the Barbarian says and does, strongly suggests that if the pair weren’t entwined “on this snake-tainted journey” that they would not get along in the slightest.

Adding an extra element of intrigue to this twenty-page periodical’s proceedings, is Zub’s inclusion of the “Great Satyne”, a servant of Set from the village of Tezunar during the Hyborian Age. This priestess appears both generous and benevolent to her people, which resultantly generates a remarkable amount of positivity as to the young Stygian’s personality. However, having suddenly been approached by the living manifestation of Set, it quickly becomes clear that the “loyal and fervent” servant will not be so forgiving to those warriors who have “set upon a path to take” a sacred family heirloom “and shatter its power”.

Supporting so diverse a story is Stephen Segovia as the publication’s leading artist and Vanesa R. Del Rey, who once again pencils this book’s haunting sequence of James Allison on his deathbed. The Filipino illustrator’s panels depicting Captain Basso’s treachery and his sailing ship’s subsequent destruction at the hands of Marc Spector’s alter-ego is absolutely first-rate, and does a terrific job of cementing the aforementioned friendship between the Fist of Khonshu and Robert E. Howard's crack-shot Puritan.

Writer: Jim Zub, Artists: Stephen Segovia & Vanesa R. Del Rey, and Colorist: Frank D'Armata

Conan: Serpent War #1 - Marvel Comics

CONAN: SERPENT WAR No. 1, February 2020

Considering that the task in hand to pen Issue One of “Conan: Serpent War” was for Jim Zub to create a somewhat believable introduction to “an all-new saga built on [both] Robert E. Howard and Marvel lore from across the ages”, this thirty-page periodical’s plot can probably be viewed as being something of a major success. Sure, it’s never explained just how the mysterious James Allison is able to bend time to his will so as to bring the likes of the black-maned Cimmerian and swashbuckling Dark Agnes together on their “ages-spanning quest”, nor what manner of devilish creature is slowly slithering its snake-like tendrils about the supposedly immortal man’s dying frame. But such unanswered conundrums behind the origin of the “Elder God called the Wyrm” still manage to imply the enormous enigmatic power at work; “I am there with them all in spirit and song. The crashing of thunder. The scream of the crowd. It’s beautiful and terrifying… A cacophony of ages past flowing together to be as one.”

Furthermore, the Canadian author’s narrative easily manages to deliver on his promise that the publication should “act as a nice jumping on point for grand sword and sorcery adventure.” All four of this comic’s leading cast get plenty of spotlight throughout its serpent-entwined shenanigans, and Zub uses these opportunities to quickly bring any perusing bibliophile ‘bang up to speed’ as to just what the likes of Moon Knight, Solomon Kane, Agnes de Chastillon and Conan are all about. Indeed, the Web Cartoonists’ Choice Awards Winner does a particularly splendid job in demonstrating just how torn Marc Spector is between being “blessed… in the service to a god”, and pulling his normal life “back together” whilst suffering from the multiple personalities of his schizophrenia.

Also ably helping this book’s storytelling are artists Vanesa R. Del Rey and Scot Eaton, whose two decidedly distinctive styles are utilised depending upon whether the action is focused upon Allison’s death-bed, or the likes of Kane fighting his way through a demonic cult covertly housed inside Northumberland’s Dunbar Castle. The Cuban illustrator’s emaciated sketches depicting James’ final hours are debatably not as visually clean-cut as Eaton’s panels portraying Dark Agnes slaying a handful of poorly-skilled assassins who have been foolish enough to attack her “seven miles south of the Canal du Cure.” Yet Del Rey’s images still do an excellent job in strongly contrasting between the immortal warrior’s ghost-laden own past and that of the heroes he is hoping to use to thwart Set’s “plans to usher in an eternity of darkness.”

Writer: Jim Zub, Penciler: Scot Eaton, Inker: Scott Hanna, and Colorist: Frank D'Armata