CONAN: SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT #1 – New Comic Review

Conan the Barbarian: Scourge of The Serpent #1, by Titan Comics on 9/24/25, opens on Conan’s Nemedian night run and a museum-like reckoning that creep toward violence and revelation in a multi-era crossover.

Credits:

• Writer: Jim Zub
• Artist: Ivan Gil
• Colorist: Joao Canola
• Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
• Cover Artist: Roberto De La Torre (cover A)
• Publisher: Titan Comics
• Release Date: September 24, 2025
• Comic Rating: Mature (gore, nudity)
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 36
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of CONAN: SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT #1:

First Impressions:

This issue grabs the reader by the throat and never loosens its grip, unleashing action and mystery with the subtlety of an ambush. The expert weaving of three plotlines across separate eras actually feels effortless, a rarity in sword-and-sorcery comics. There’s a rough, wild energy from page one that compels continued reading.

Plot Analysis:

In The Thurian Age, Brule the Spear-Slayer undertakes a mission to ally himself with or vanquish the King of Valusia – King Kull. When Brule infiltrates the city at night and climbs a palace tower, he’s soon confronted by the Kull lying in wait. However, Brule speaks ancient words given to him by Gonar, words that Kull instinctively recognizes as a bond of allies.

In the Hyborian Age, Conan, still in the early days of his career as a thief, acts on a tip about a wealthy collector who may have enough jewels to line his pockets for wine and woman. When he enters the back chambers to pilfer what he can, he finds the master collector dead. A watchmen surprises Conan and sounds the alarm.

In the early 20th century, Kirowan and O’Donnell meet with a wealthy collector who is interested in a purchasing ancient artifacts. The collector is startled when Korowan shows him a knife because the collector is still on edge after his wife nearly killed him with a shaving razor earlier that day during a type of fit. O’Donnell and Kirowan become suspicious when they learn the collector’s wife started acting strangely after she received an odd ring as a gift from an old rival.

The issue concludes with Kull and Brule encountering, first-hand, the shapeshifting snake men of Set, Conan surrounded by guards for a murder he didn’t commit, and Kirowan and O’Donnell making a house call.

Story

The script is lean yet vivid, balancing grandiose speech with street-level grit. Every line of dialogue propels plot or deepens character; there’s not a wasted word in the bunch. The intertwining timelines showcase genuine narrative craftsmanship, teasing connections and payoffs without getting bogged down in exposition.

Art

The visuals are a showcase of kinetic energy and careful detail. Swordfights and sorcery pulse with purpose, and the color palette perfectly strikes the balance between bloody pulp and moody atmosphere. Each era sports a distinct visual signature, making timeline jumps intuitive and visually satisfying.

Characters

Conan is rendered as more than a brute. He is shrewd, defiant, and always calculating. Supporting characters stand out, particularly Kull & Brule and Kirowan & O’Donnell; each leaves a mark both in the story and on the reader’s memory. Their motivations are shaded and believable, keeping the cast intriguing even when the violence takes center stage.

Positives

The absolute standout is the comic’s ability to juggle three timelines without a stumble, making the complex seem effortless. The pacing snaps and crackles, rendering each era distinct yet part of a devastating whole. Whether it’s the lean dialogue, kinetic swordplay, or the way crimson blood stands out against blue-black shadow, “Scourge of the Serpent #1” delivers precisely where it counts – over-the-top adventure and razor-sharp clarity pull the reader in and refuse to let go.

Negatives

Not every panel lands; occasionally, backgrounds blur into vague mists when clarity would amplify suspense or action. Furthermore, there’s a risk that the constant timeline leaps could disorient less attentive readers, though sharp transitions mostly keep confusion at bay.

Art Samples:

Final Thoughts:

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Sharp as a serpent’s fang and almost as deadly, CONAN: SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT #1 slices above the genre’s usual fare. If every timeline you touch turns to chaos, at least let it be this riveting. Few can match such sweaty sword-and-sorcery with this level of narrative agility. The series opener makes the rest of the run a must-read, and anyone not on board after this issue probably needs their head checked for bite marks.

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