CONAN THE BARBARIAN #10, by Titan Comics on 4/24/24, awakens King Kull from a fever dream, prompting him, Brule, and Conan to return to Kull’s home of Atlantis, where horror awaits.
The Details
- Written by: Jim Zub
- Art by: Robert De La Torre
- Colors by: Diego Rodriguez
- Letters by: Richard Starkings
- Cover art by: Alan Quah (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: April 24, 2024
Is CONAN THE BARBARIAN #10 Good?
In the previous issue, Conan awoke in the distant past after an encounter with the specters from Thulsa Doom. He found himself compelled to kill himself to escape being brainwashed and enslaved to FThulsa Doom. The black magic enveloping him transported him to the past, where Brule found him. Brule then took him to King Kull, who was out of his mind, either possessed or under some dark influence. Believing Conan and Brule were trying to attack him, King Kull engaged them in a fight. After King Kull passed out, Brule and Conan were captured by the Royal Guards, falsely accused of attempting to assassinate the king.
In Conan the Barbarian #10, we catch up with King Kull as he’s having a fever dream. In his vision, he sees himself surrounded by sentient representations of a lion and a tiger, guiding him towards his path. Led through the dense jungle and up on the cliff toop, he spots his home of Atlantis. The center of the city is dominated by a large black stone obelisk, with all the people around it turned into undead zombie-like creatures, synonymous with the power of the Black Stone. Approaching the pillar, he attempts to reach it, either to gain its power or stop it. At the last moment, the obelisk explodes, wiping out the city of Atlantis. Suddenly, King Kull wakes up, back in his mind and senses. His advisers explain what happened, revealing that Conan and Brule were accused of attempting to assassinate him. Kull, realizing his fault, arranges for their release, believing his dream to be a prophecy. He decides to go back to Atlantis, either to confront and stop something or prevent a terrible event. Conan and Brule agree to accompany him.
Conan, being the noble warrior that he is, agrees with Brule, and they prepare by loading up a ship with all the servants and supplies they can. As they head out, Conan is confronted with feelings of his past, especially his longing for Belit after her death. The voyage gets rougher as the ship is attacked by possessed pirates influenced by the dark magic from the Black Stone. Conan and the Red Guard manage to fend them off and burn the pirate ship, but they lose a couple of crew members in the process. Finally, they reach Atlantis, and King Kull, recognizing his home, races through the jungle with a sort of manic determination. When they reach a clifftop, they are shocked to find nothing but devastation in Atlantis.
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What did we like about CONAN THE BARBARIAN #10?
As we’ve said before, we’ll say it again, and we’ll keep saying it until people get the point across: Jim Zub has a clear love for Robert E. Howard and Conan, and it comes across in the way this story feels authentic to the original writings. The voyage has all the ups and downs you would expect from a rough sea voyage where Conan is engaged in a long-term mission. This is not a short story; this is a paced, grand, epic, mythic story in the same vein as Robert E. Howard. The pacing is great, the dialogue is great, and the action is grim, barbaric, and gripping in all the right ways.
What didn’t we like about CONAN THE BARBARIAN #10?
It is a drawn-out, long epic tale that feels authentic to Robert E. Howard, but it does drag a little bit in the middle, particularly during the journey. Some parts feel like they could have been trimmed down a bit. However, overall, this was a fantastic issue, and that little pacing problem in the middle is minor by comparison. It’s a nitpick at best. Overall, this was a fantastic issue.
How’s the Art?
The art by Robert De La Torre is phenomenal. This is quintessential Conan art that lands smack dab in the middle of the Bronze Age style. The shadows are dark, and the curvatures and contours of every character, every muscle, every sinew, every bone are rendered in gorgeous detail. It is grim, it is dramatic, with excellent use of shadows. When characters are a little further back, almost the entire lower half of the face is cast in shadow, giving a sense of grim determination. It’s a beautiful looking comic, and if you want something that looks like a quintessential Conan comic, this is it.
Final Thoughts
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CONAN THE BARBARIAN #10 is a comic with fantastic Bronze Age-styled art, grim, gritty barbarian action, and an authentic connection to Robert E. Howard’s storytelling style. If you want a Conan comic, this is as good as it’s going to get, and it gets pretty darn good. We highly recommend it. If you’re not reading this issue or if you’re not reading the series at all but you are a Conan fan or Robert E. Howard fan, you are missing out.
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