CONAN THE BARBAIAN #7 / Script by JIM ZUB / Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE / Colors by DIEGO RODRIGUEZ / Letters by RICHARD STARKINGS / Published by HEROIC SIGNATURES & TITAN COMICS

Not too long ago, Conan of Cimmeria lost the first love of his life, the pirate queen Belit. Since then, he has thrown himself into wine and women, having little use for song. Still, he is haunted by the memory of Belit, despite the comely female thief now sharing his bed. Alas, Conan is about to be haunted by something stranger still – an eldritch power with dark designs for him!

Again, I rejoice that Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures saw fit to bring Conan of Cimmeria back to comics. I have resisted reviewing every issue of this series to date for fear of being repetitive. How many times must I speak of Jim Zub’s skill as a writer, his clear love for the setting, and his ability to write high adventure like few others?

I could speak at length about the vivid details of Doug Braithwiate’s pencils or the delicate craft of his inks. I could wax at length about Diego Rodriguez’ colors and the palette changes indicating subtle shifts between flashbacks, outdoor scenes and indoor scenes. And I cannot ignore the crisp lettering of Richard Starkings.

The only hesitation I have in recommending this book is that it is the third chapter of a four-part story. Better to start at the beginning, with the upcoming Conan the Barbarian: Bound in Black Stone TP. (Available February 13, 2024!) If, however, you cannot wait, you can easily jump into the adventure with this issue, if that is your wont.

Conan the Barbarian #7 arrives in comic shops on January 31, 2024.