Conan had come back to Marvel in a big way. Some may argue with having him join Savage Avengers he may be more superhero than he should, but even the purist agree Savage Sword of Conan has been excellent. The latest trade paperback of Savage Sword of Conan out now and features three distinct and complete stories.
Savage Sword of Conan: Conan the Gambler starts with a one-shot by Merideth Finch and Luke Ross. Everything about this issue story is classic Conan storytelling, from the opening scene in a dark bar to the gladiator games to a half-naked woman; and the violence is exactly what every Conan fan is looking for! Merideth husband, David Finch, join forces with Frank D’Armata on an awesome cover, strong enough for any Conan novel cover.
Merideth lays out the story well, with magic potions, and setting up a good reason for Conan to fight for his life, and plays up that Conan needed some luck to make it out of this alive. Conan is drugged and has to fight to the death in his groggy condition from the poison. The fight sequence is incredible. Conan appears to be in real jeopardy. This story is really well done.
Luke’s art is the perfect compliment to Merideth’s storytelling. The poison conveys a sense of danger for Conan and the pacing is excellent. When blood starts to flow, Conan, is ruthless and vicious, never holding back. Luke changes angle from panel to panel so you feeling the violence.
Next up is the three-part story Conan the Gambler by Jim Zub and Patch Zircher. Like in a James Bond film, Conan must navigate the incredibly dangerous realm of poker or other casino games. With Conan in the Bond role things are a little different. Conan must paly a game that is clever and all about backstabbing just like in real money casinos. Jim does an outstanding job setting up the rules of the game and gives Conan new dangers to avoid in each chapter, all coming to an end in an all too interesting way that you won’t ever see coming. This is a fun story! Patch does some very strong storytelling and captures the intensity of the poker game, the game has the same intensity as any battle Conan has any faced.
Closing this trade paperback is a two-part story by Roy Thomas and Alan Davis Dark Cavern Dark Crystal. This story has Conan on the road protecting a mysterious woman. He’s soon joined by other Barbarians trying to fight off some monsters, and he has to avoid a being stabbed in the back literally. Allan has a clean and detailed style. He draws Conan in a way that is reminiscent of classic Conan comics. Roy is the master on this character and provides fun character twists that organically provide a strong level of depth throughout the story.
This trade paperback captures everything you could ever want in a Conan the Barbarian comic. It does so in three complete stories by different teams. It demonstrates Conan’s versatility as a character and every page of this book is a joy.
Below is the solicitation text for the trade and the individual issues include in the book.
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN: CONAN THE GAMBLER TPB
Written by MEREDITH FINCH, JIM ZUB & ROY THOMAS
Penciled by LUKE ROSS, PATCH ZIRCHER & ALAN DAVIS
Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
More foes fall before the savage sword of Conan! A past wrong comes back to haunt Conan in a tale of revenge! Stripped of his weapons, his strength and even his wits, the Cimmerian must dig deep if he wants to live to see the dawn! Then, a violent encounter in Shadizar puts young Conan in the hot seat in a deadly game of Serpent’s Bluff! Now, he must navigate the seedy underworld of “civilized” gambling. But when the chips are down, he’ll play his best hand — the one holding good Brythunian steel! Plus: Legendary creators Roy Thomas and Alan Davis spin an unforgettable tale as Conan leads a mysterious band of adventurers into the Himelian Mountains in search of a lost comrade. But Conan may get more than he bargained for when the startling truth behind the quest is uncovered! Collecting SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN (2019) #6-11.
135 PGS./Parental Advisory …$19.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-91694-7
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #6
MEREDITH FINCH (W) • LUKE ROSS (A) • Cover by DAVID FINCH
VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by MAX FIUMARA
THORFEL’S REVENGE FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE!
• Brought to you by the creative team of Meredith Finch and Luke Ross, this all-new self-contained story springs from classic Conan mythology as Conan is led to death by the son of man he had wronged in the past. But stripped of his weapons, his strength, and even his wits, Conan will have to dig deep if he wants to live to see the dawn!
• Plus: Continuing the all-new Conan novella “THE SHADOW OF VENGEANCE”!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #7
JIM ZUB (W) • PATCH ZIRCHER (A)
Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
Variant Cover by PHILIP TAN
HITHER CAME…CONAN THE GAMBLER?!
A chance violent encounter in Shadizar lands young CONAN a position as a bodyguard for a wealthy merchant. But a twist of fate will put Conan in the hot seat — and no choice but to play the hand he’s dealt in a deadly game of SERPENT’S BLUFF! Conan will rely on his sword — and his wits — while navigating the seedy underworld of “civilized” gambling while making sure he stays clear of the deadly “Debtors Lounge”! Magic, mystery and action abound when writer Jim Zub (CHAMPIONS, AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME) joins forces with artist Patch Zircher (HULK; TERROR, INC.) for the first of a three-part epic — CONAN THE GAMBLER!
PLUS: The next chapter in the all-new CONAN novella “THE SHADOW OF VENGEANCE”!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #8
JIM ZUB (W) • PATCH ZIRCHER (A)
Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
Variant Cover by LEONARDO MANCO
NEVER DWELL ON THE HAND YOU’RE DEALT – EVEN IF IT’S DEATH!
“CONAN THE GAMBLER” PART 2!
- CONAN’s job as a bodyguard in Shadizar lands him in a deadly game of SERPENT’S BLUFF!
- But if the cards are in Conan’s favor, will this absolve his debt or land him in further danger?
- It’ll take more than luck to win the prize this time!
- PLUS: The next chapter in the all-new CONAN novella “THE SHADOW OF VENGEANCE”!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #9
JIM ZUB (W) • PATCH ZIRCHER (A) • Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
Variant Cover by YASMINE PUTRI
A DEBT OF BLOOD REPAID!
• The chips are down, and CONAN will have to play his best hand…
• …the one holding good Brythunian steel!
• The DEMON’S DEN takes its debts seriously, and it will take everything Conan’s got if he is to emerge from the DEBTOR’S LOUNGE alive!
• PLUS: The next chapter in the all-new CONAN novella “THE SHADOW OF VENGEANCE”!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #10
ROY THOMAS (W) • ALAN DAVIS (A)
Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
Variant Cover by JOHN MCCREA
Nearly 50 years after he first brought the Cimmerian to the pages of Marvel Comics, the incredible ROY THOMAS returns to script the SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN! Teamed with the legendary ALAN DAVIS, get ready for an unforgettable chapter in the saga of Conan, as the barbarian leads a mysterious band of adventurers into the Himelian Mountains in search of a lost comrade. But Conan may get more than he bargained for as the startling truth behind the quest is uncovered! Set before Robert E. Howard’s “People of the Black Circle,” don’t miss the start of this ALL-NEW adventure fleshing out an important period in Conan’s history!
Plus: The next chapter in the all-new novella “THE SHADOW OF VENGEANCE”!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
CONAN THE BARBARIAN #11
JASON AARON (W) • MAHMUD ASRAR (A)
Cover by ESAD RIBIC
Variant Cover by NEAL ADAMS
BY CROM – THE BARBARIAN VS. HIS GOD!
• As Conan shuffles off this mortal coil, he stands face to face with his God, CROM!
• But Crom does not care for the fate of some weak mortal…
• Unless Conan MAKES him!
• CONAN IS DEAD! LONG LIVE CONAN!
• Plus: the penultimate chapter in the all-new novella “BLACK STARLIGHT”!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
About Author
