CONAN THE BARBARIAN #15, by Titan Comics on 9/23/24, brings Conan to the brink of paradise (or damnation) when the mysterious woman tracking his hunting party lures Conan into the icy wastes.
Credits:
- Writer: Jim Zub
- Artist: Doug Braithwaite
- Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
- Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
- Cover Artist: Mahmud Asrar (cover A)
- Publisher: Titan Comics
- Release Date: September 23, 2024
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 26
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #15:
First Impressions:
It’s always a good idea to put a name to the face. Writer Jim Zub unveils the identity of the mystery woman by putting Conan through the wringer, driven half-crazed by bewitching beauty. Zub’s arc begins with Conan searching for gods that may not exist, but by the time this issue is done, he’ll have a new outlook on life.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left Conan in Conan the Barbarian #14, he allied himself with the Aesirmen as he traveled through their territory. When one of the Aesir villages was attacked by a rival clan, the Vanir, Conan was the first to charge ahead, lend aid to a slaughtered village, and join the Aesir party to hunt down their attackers. All the while, a mysterious immortal woman watched and schemed to make Conan hers.
Conan the Barbarian #15 begins at the end… of Conan’s fight against the Vanir raiders. The young Cimmerian stands alone against the last Vanir warrior. Niord and his warriors have not yet reached the battlefield, but Conan chooses not to waste time dispatching the last Vanir.
Writer Jim Zub immediately picks up from the last issue by forcing Conan to fight until he’s got nothing left. Of course, Conan would stand victorious, but the words he exchanges with his last opponent, as the two trade comments about which afterlife is waiting for them, remind readers about the spiritual quest at the heart of Conan’s current journey. If every tribe, clan, and individual has a different idea about spiritual matters, which one is true?
When the deed is done, Conan is suddenly struck by a brightness that blinds his eyes and forces him to kneel in the blood-soaked snow. The mysterious woman floats down, bright hair flowing like golden waters on a gentle stream. Conan assumes from the color of her hair that she is from a nearby Vanir tribe, but she mocks Conan’s ignorance. The more they talk, the more Conan becomes entranced by her beauty and his desire for her. The woman says her village is further than Conan can walk, but if he wishes to see it, he must follow her. Before Conan can say another word, she quickly sprints into the icy wasteland.
Zub creates a dance of words and confusion for the titular hero. As the woman points out, all Conan can conclude is what he can see, hear, and feel to the length of his sword, which is the struggle that first put him on this journey. The woman taps into Conan’s primal sense and desires to egg him on beyond rational thought. In a roundabout way, Zub creates an opportunity that so many searching for faith experience, which is a surrendering of logic in pursuit of something more (super)natural.
Conan chases the woman through the snow and rough terrain. Suddenly, the woman is stopped by a godly flash of power – her father. We don’t hear his words, but the woman responds to his thoughts as he argues with her about claiming a mortal for herself. When the bickering is done, frost giants emerge from the ground and attack Conan. Despite his dazed mind and exhausted body, Conan fights beyond mortal limits to defeat the frost giants.
Here again, Zub uses the latest development to echo the obstacles one might encounter during a search for faith and meaning. The woman, representing the internal need to connect with a higher power, remains just beyond Conan’s grasp. When it seems Conan might finally catch up, massive obstacles emerge to test Conan’s resolve, forcing him to push beyond his limiting beliefs. For a Conan story, Zub is tapping into deep philosophical and spiritual themes.
Energized beyond all reason, Conan chases after the woman again, but she can’t stay ahead. Conan grabs her, but the woman cries out to her father for help. The issue ends with an explosion of light, a friendly face, and proof.
Overall, Conan the Barbarian #15 presents mature, spiritual concepts wrapped in a ferocious Conan tale. Jim Zub is digging deep to dispel Conan’s reputation as a sword-slashing meathead by sending him on a personal journey that reflects the struggles everyone can relate to.
Artwork and Presentation:
Doug Braithwaite’s art, from the authentic battle action to the tasteful nudity, hits the mark by bringing Conan’s icy vision quest to visual life. The amount of pencil/ink detail is impressive, and Diego Rodriguez flexes fantastic coloring muscles during the magic sequences.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
We won’t spoil the woman’s identity here, but it turns out she is not a new Conan character. If you want a hint, check out one of the original Robert E. Howard stories, The Frost-Giant’s Daughter, for a clue.
Final Thoughts:
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CONAN THE BARBARIAN #15 leads Conan one step further on his journey of faith when he encounters the mystery woman who might send him to an early grave. Jim Zub presents a hard-hitting Conan story with surprisingly mature philosophical and spiritual themes, and Doug Braithwaite’s art is impressive.
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