PopCultHQ reviews CONAN THE BARBARIAN by Aaron & Asrar HC from Marvel Comics. Available February 3rd, the creative team for this book features writing by Jason Aaron, art from Mahmud Asrar w/ Gerardo Zaffino & Garry Brown, colors by Matthew Wilson, and letters from Travis Lanham.
Here is PopCultHQ’s Spoiler-Free Review of…
CONAN THE BARBARIAN by Aaron & Asrar HC
Story: Jason Aaron
Art: Mahmud Asrar w/ Gerardo Zaffino & Garry Brown
Colors: Matthew Wilson
Letters: Travis Lanham
Cover Art: Esad Ribic
Collecting CONAN THE BARBARIAN (2019) #1-12.
The life and death of Conan the Barbarian! The greatest sword-and-sorcery hero of all returns to Marvel, but how long will he survive? Conan’s travels have brought him to the far reaches of the unknown, from his birthplace in Cimmeria to the kingdom of Aquilonia and all lands in between – but just as his fighting prowess lets him carve his way through life, so too does it attract the forces of death! And few are more deadly than the Crimson Witch and the terrible wizard Thoth-Amon! As beasts from the past rear their fearsome heads, the Barbarian fights his final battle and meets his ultimate fate – but what lies beyond the veil of life? Could it be…Crom?! Robert E. Howard’s legendary barbarian’s days are numbered in an all-new saga, and Conan’s destiny is forever changed!
PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
CONAN THE BARBARIAN by Aaron & Asrar HC
Know you, weary travelers, that you stand before a mighty book. Within its pages are the tales of Conan, greatest of warriors. He has fought against wizards, demons, and other fell creatures across many lands. Stand fast and hold thy breath, for these are stories of Conan unlike any before. Of his life and perhaps dare it be so…his death.
Writing: Jason Aaron has written many amazing comics over the years. He has tackled some of the world’s greatest heroes and carved new tales for them out of pure imagination. But to take on the mightiest of all heroes, to weave an intricate drama of adventure with many myriad twists and turns, that is something else. Each tale that is told is rich in detail. The Conan readers receive from Jason’s imagination is carved straight from the mind of Robert E. Howard. Nothing man can be said or should be said. Jason has given the world a wonderful gift…the gift of Conan.
Art: Whenever Conan comics come out, there is always an epic artist(s) who brings the various worlds and peoples of Conan to life. But three artists, working on the different issues of this HC to tie it all together? Outstanding! Mahmud, Gerardo, and Garry play off Jason’s writing in a way that works well with the overall theme of the hardcover. The different art styles these three employ highlights different aspects of Conan’s life, his adventures, and everything else that comes with being who he is. In summation, home run from these fine fellows all the way.
Colors: There is a lot of lavish color in this Conan HC. Varying hues for skin tones, clothing, landscapes, creatures…and of course, blood. Above all else, there is a lot of red employed for the massive amounts of blood spilled by Conan throughout the course of his adventures. Matthew employs a keen eye in discerning the choice reds for the blood and with the various colors for the other facets of the artwork. It is clear that he worked closely with the artists to plan out his palettes and the fruit of his labor shows in this book.
Letters: Stirring and majestic are the choice of words to describe the lettering utilized by Travis Lanham. If one is to go back and read the original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard, there is that same sort of stirring majesty that has propelled this unlikely figure into the annals of heroic memory. Travis’s work embodies the same energy Howard put forth decades ago and in doing so, adds more to the mythos of Conan the Barbarian in a way that will leave readers eager to delve further into his world.
PopCultHQ’s overall assessment:
Ever since Robert E. Howard gave the world Conan the Barbarian 89 years ago, no one could have predicted the tidal wave of enjoyment that would come about from such a character. That wave continues to endure in this hardcover, and thanks to the amazing team that came together on this series, it will carry on for future generations. To any who call themselves fans and scholars of Conan, this book is one that deserves a place of honor in any collection.
PopCultHQ’s Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
Purchase
CONAN THE BARBARIAN by Aaron & Asrar HC
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Publisher – Marvel Comics
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