CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE #1, by Titan Comics on 9/4/24, embarks on an eon-spanning adventure when Robert E. Howard’s greatest creations gather to battle the eye of the Black Stone.
Credits:
- Writer: Jim Zub
- Artist: Jonas Scharf
- Colorist: João Canola
- Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
- Cover Artist: Gerardo Zaffino (cover A)
- Publisher: Titan Comics
- Release Date: September 4, 2024
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 26
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE #1:
First Impressions:
Holy Crap! What is this?!? We knew Titan and Jim Zub were cooking up something special. Still, we never imagined they would follow up last week’s spectacular The Savage Sword of Conan #4 with a story that takes all those characters, adds one more for good measure, and bands them all together for an adventure that defines the word “Epic” at every level.
Plot Analysis:
Conan: Battle of the Black Stone #1 begins with an unexpected visit to 1936 Chicago. Professor John Kirowan and John Conrad have come to the very exclusive annual meeting of The Wanderers’ Club to hobnob with their fellow explorers and truth seekers. This time, however, they’ve come seeking information from one attendee – Francis Xavier Gordon, aka El Borak. What is the information they seek? Kirowan and Conrad want to know what El Borak can tell them about a mysterious sigil they found in Egypt that matches a marking in El Borak’s previous notes. Upon seeing the sigil, El Borak is struck by an intense reaction.
No, you didn’t pick up the wrong comic. The issue starts with a prologue starring Robert E. Howard’s adventurers, but it all comes together. Further, the scene establishes an exciting bit of continuity across Robert E. Howard’s stories to establish an interconnected universe that brims with potential.
The issue cuts to Conan the Barbarian as he ponders a strange amulet with a curious sigil he took from a Pict warrior during the heat of battle. Conan hears the reveries of his fellow soldiers at Fort Tuscelan, but the sigil increasingly occupies his thoughts. When another soldier challenges Conan to a sparring match, the sigil distracts Conan’s mind during the fight until he nearly loses. When the final blow is about to fall, the thought of the sigil empowers Conan with a burning rage that overpowers his opponent. Later, the sigil disturbs Conan’s sleep, urging him to seek out the source of its call.
Picking up from the recent The Savage Sword of Conan #4, Conan is compelled to find the sigil and (possibly) destroy it, even if he’s somewhat empowered by it. Zub doesn’t spill the beans too early about the nature of the sigil’s power, but it’s clear the sigil seeks out individuals with strength in mind and body, so you’re struck with the realization that the sigil is a dark, unsleeping force; very similar to the Dark Ones of Lovecraftian lore. To be clear, this isn’t a horror comic in the traditional sense, but Zub captures the sense of timeless evil endemic to Lovecraft’s stories.
What follows is a montage of quick scenes showing other Howard characters as they encounter the sigil’s strange pull. Author James Allison feels the sigil’s presence looking over his shoulder in 1936 Texas. Dark Agnes feels confused over winning a sword fight she can’t remember when the sigil enflamed her senses in 1522 France. Solomon Kane heeds the call to root out and destroy the source of the sigil’s evil in 1584 Africa. Now, El Borak warns his visitors to stop researching the sigil because they’re not ready.
That’s right. All the characters who were given a short story to shine and remind a new generation of readers about their existence in last week’s The Savage Sword of Conan #4 have been brought in to join the fight. Robert E. Howard fans are going to have a field day with this miniseries.
Suddenly, the Wanderer’s Club erupts in chaos when a stone in a nearby glass case begins to vibrate and hum with a malignant green energy. In the past, Conan finds the source of the sigil’s call deep in Pictland territory. He finds a cave with the sigil painted over its mouth guarded by battle-hardened Pictish warriors. Conan feels compelled to attack, and for a time, he holds his own, but the numbers are too great. When it seems Conan is about to be struck down, the scene erupts in green fire.
The issue concludes with the sigil claiming one hero, the rest of the heroes joining in a shared vision, and the beginning of the end.
Overall, Conan: Battle of the Black Stone #1 will knock the socks off Robert E. Howard fans. Jim Zub has stated more than once that Titan locked him into a 3-year contract. At this rate, Titan should consider doubling it because getting excited about a comic is a rare thing these days. A rare thing, indeed.
Artwork and Presentation:
Readers may not know the name Jonas Scharf before, but we encountered his work not too long ago in Deal Breaker #1 from Evoluzione Publishing. Scharf does an admirable job of capturing the look and feel of the characters across multiple eras while incorporating a heavy amount of moody shadows and dramatic silhouettes to emphasize the Lovecraftian nature of the story. Of course, we’re fans of Robert De La Torre’s Golden Age aesthetic on the main Conan series, but Scharf’s sharp edges and detailed contours are an excellent complement to Zub’s story.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
The additional character added in this issue who didn’t appear in last week’s The Savage Sword of Conan #4 is James Allison. Longtime Robert E. Howard fans will recognize that name as a fictional author who has an extensive recollection of his past lives and uses that knowledge for his adventures. For DC readers, imagine Hawkman without the wings.
Final Thoughts:
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE #1 marks what could be the beginning of Titan’s and Jim Zub’s creation of a Robert E. Howard Universe when a collective of heroes across time are called to join Conan in battle against the Black Stone’s evil. Jim Zub infuses his story with an undeniable passion to extend Howard’s legacy, and Jonas Scharf’s sharp, atmospheric art is first-rate.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.