CONAN THE BARBARIAN #17 / Story by JIM ZUB / Art by DANICA BRINE / Colors by JAO CANOLA / Letters by RICHARD STARKINGS & COMICRAFT’S TYLER SMITH / Published by TITAN COMICS

For over three years, Conan acted as the right-hand of the pirate queen Belit. The sagas tell of their glorious first meeting and their tragic parting. The bard songs of the time between are less certain, save that their savage love was a romance for the ages. Here lies a new tale, of how the lovers came to the portside city of Kyros and the adventure that found them as they sought a place to rest and enjoy the spoils of their larceny.

Jim Zub takes a step away from the Howard canon in Conan the Barbarian #17, having most recently adapted The Frost Giant’s Daughter for comics. However, while this is an original tale, it is well stepped in the lore of Robert E. Howard’s original stories. Zub’s command of Conan as a character remains unmatched and, unsurprisingly given his run so far, he has a solid handle on Belit as well. Both are peas in a pod, wild and untamed. The only difference between them is Belit is far more reckless when sorcery and the unknown is concerned. In this respect, the story foreshadows Belit’s eventual end.

Zub is joined this time around by artist Danica Brine. Brine’s aesthetic is a worthy one, with vivid details and lots of fun little things hidden in the backgrounds. (I particularly like the monkey in the rafters of the Hidden Haven inn.) The colors by Jao Canola are equally impressive, with subtle contrasts between dark and light throughout.

If you’ve not been reading Conan the Barbarian since Titan Comics took over the license, you’ve been missing out on a damn good comic. Fans of fantasy will be in good spirits, but the high adventure and intrigue will also appeal to other audiences. What’s more, this issue is the perfect jumping-on point for new readers.

Conan the Barbarian #17 arrives in comic shops on December 11, 2024.