CONAN & DRAGO NERO #1  / Script by STEFANO VIETTI & LUCA ENOUCH / Art & Colors by LORENZO NUTI / Letters by RICHARD STARKINGS & COMICRAFT’S TYLER SMITH / Published by TITAN COMICS

Conan has traveled far in his life. Further than any other Cimmerian, as far as he knows. He has even traveled through time and space, beyond the realms of the Hyborian Age. Thus the barbarian was not too shocked when he and his mercenary company found themselves in another world witht wo moons – the mystic realm of Erondár!

Erondár is a wildly different world than Conan’s, with magic more commonplace and technology that seems like magic to his eyes. Yet there are threats that are familiar to him, such as the dragon that apparently brought him into this world. Yet Conan will not face this threat alone, for Erondár is also home to the reknowned dragon-slayer called Dragon Nero

Until this book, I was not familiar with the fantasy series Dragonero. Apparently it is a relatively recent comic, barely a decade old, which became a big hit in its native Italy. It has also apparently inspired a role-playing game and a video game.

However, Conan and Dragonero #1 only offers a taste of its setting and its central character doesn’t appear until the closing pages.Thankfully, that taste is enough to inspire further reading. Writers Stefano Vietti and Luca Enoch put the focus on Conan, allowing the reader to learn of the world of Erondár through his eyes. This is a subtle but brilliant touch, given that most of the audience probably consists of comic readers like me: Conan fans who haven’t read Dragonero.

The artwork by Lorenzo Nuti presents an interesting paradox. Cool, muted shades dominate the artwork, giving everything a washed-out aura. However, this emphasizes the alien nature of Erondár from Conan’s perspective. That serves to make the action of the issue more intense. This is further reflected in the sound effect balloons, which create a visual clamor that once again contasts with the stark backgrounds.

I cannot speak as to how well Conan and Dragonero captures the spirit of the Dragonero comics. I can say, as a Conan fan, that I found this interesting enough to want to read more. It may not hold as much appeal to those who don’t like sword-and-sorcery stories, but I found it to be an enjoyable work of fantasy.

Conan and Dragonero arrives in comic shops everywhere on May 13, 2026.