CONAN THE BARBARIAN #14, by Titan Comics on 8/21/24, joins forces with the Aesirmen to track down a murderous rival tribe, but Conan doesn’t realize he’s being watched by a beautiful, otherworldly force.
Credits:
- Writer: Jim Zub
- Artist: Doug Braithwaite
- Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
- Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
- Cover Artist: Jae Lee
- Publisher: Titan Comics
- Release Date: August 21, 2024
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #14:
First Impressions:
Writer Jim Zub gives readers a masterful object lesson on how to build a story that stretches over multiple issues without filling the pages with decompressed fluff. Conan the Barbarian #14 doesn’t take readers very far in Conan’s quest to find his faith, but what it does do is build relationships, reveal the undercurrent of a spiritual world that exists outside Conan’s perceptions, and tease one heck meeting in the future. You still get all the trappings of a typical Conan story (brutal violence, stoic atmosphere, etc.), but this issue has more… so much more.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left the mighty barbarian in Conan the Barbarian #13, CONAN OF CIMMERIA sought a challenge to test his mettle. Recalling his father’s words of CROM, their mighty mountain god, but unsure of their validity, Conan threw himself against nature’s fury, seeking purpose in combat. Felling first a trio of wolves and then slaying a brutal bear, Conan recognized the power in his steel-set strength. Yet on returning to his campsite, Conan discovered he was joined now by wolves of a different kind: AESIRMEN ready to take the Cimmerian’s hard-fought game or his life… all while a mysterious WOMAN silently spied from the trees above…
In Conan the Barbarian #14, Conan refuses to submit to the Aesirmen who invaded his camp, so the barbarian lets his fists respond to their demands. While the one-sided fight rages, the mysterious woman we saw at the end of issue #13 watches on, drawn to Conan’s strangely bright spirit while lamenting the predictable fragility of mortals.
Writer Jim Zub expertly turns a simple fight into a scene of foreshadowing by starting the issue with narration from the mysterious woman’s point of view. It’s clear her skimpy outfit doesn’t present a problem because she isn’t entirely human or mortal. We get a stronger tease about her identity later, but Zub sets up a super intriguing premise about Conan’s quest for faith coming to a head in a way he couldn’t have suspected.
Conan bloodies his attackers, but the fight is stopped when the Aesirmen’s chief, Niord, arrives to put a stop to it. The level-headed chief recognizes Conan is a formidable fighter and hunter, so he offers safe passage if he would be willing to share the bear he caught in the last issue and stay with the tribe for a few days. Conan agrees despite the protests of the men Conan beat. What follows is a day or two of cultural sharing, feasting, and mutual respect.
The preceding scene is key for new readers because it underscores how Conan and the circles he travels can be a place of peace and respect when men work together for mutual benefit. Conan isn’t a raging berserker who swings his sword at everything who moves. This scene brings that point home succinctly.
During a night of feasting around the campfire, Aesir war horns sound from far away. Niord recognizes the signal as a call for help, so he gathers a group to ride to the rescue. However, Conan is the first on a horse, charging to the sound. All the while, the mystery woman watches the scene and wonders about the motivations of the men. She knows death is coming, wondering why her father bothers to listen to their prayers when all these mortals do is fight.
Ahh, now we’re getting to it. Zub never outright declares it in this issue, but you could surmise the mystery woman is the daughter of the god the Aesirmen pray to, Ymir. Much like Conan, the Aesirmen believe in Ymir but don’t know if he listens. We can guess that Conan is about to have a brush with gods, just not the one he suspected, heightening the intrigue of this arc considerably.
When Conan and Aesirmen reach the sound of the alarm, they’re too late to save the village. Red-haired Vanir, a rival tribe, have come and gone, leaving slaughtered men, women, and children. Conan joins the men in putting out the burning longhouse and saving whoever he can, earning even more respect from Niord and his fellow Aesirmen. When Niord vows to hunt down the Vanir responsible for the attack, Conan declares he will join them to avenge the slain women and children.
What follows is a trudge through a wintry storm as Niord, Conan, and the Aesirmen resist the wintry blast of Ymir’s will. The mystery woman follows their trek, unseen even in close proximity. When the group finds its prey, a brutal fight begins.
The issue concludes with heavy losses for the Aesir and Vanir, a black-haired stranger who stands brightest among them all, and a declaration of interest from a woman probably not used to hearing the word ‘no.’
Overall, Jim Zub gives readers a standard yet engaging Conan story on one level, then adds a supernatural layer to expand the narrative and scale when the gods choose Conan for their next bit of fun. Everyone can understand wrestling with belief in the unseen, but it’s quite something else when the unseen decides to answer back, so we can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Artwork and Presentation:
It’s no secret that we loved Robert De La Torre on Conan since issue #1 because he captured that dark, brooding, Bronze-Aged aesthetic. That said, Doug Braithwaite’s brighter yet more detailed style makes the grade with powerful figurework, gritty violence and gore, and an all-around outstanding set of visuals. Braithwaite isn’t better or worse than De La Torre, just different, but in this case, different is good… very good.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
Readers may wonder where this arc fits in the timeline of the series as a whole. Jim Zub doesn’t spell it out, but this adventure takes place after the first arc, where Conan encounters the undead armies of the Black Stone, before Conan eventually becomes a seafaring pirate with the love of his life, Bêlit.
Final Thoughts:
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
CONAN THE BARBARIAN #14 is another killer (no pun intended) issue that reminds readers that Conan and the world he travels in have multiple layers ripe for exploring. Jim Zub takes what would be a boilerplate story in lesser hands and creates intrigue on multiple levels. Plus, Doug Braithwaite’s deceptively detailed art is outstanding.
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.