CONAN THE BARBARIAN #18, by Titan Comics on 2/19/25, turns a night of fun and thievery for Conan and Bêlit into a fight for survival.
Credits:
- Writer: Jim Zub
- Artist: Danica Brine
- Colorist: Jão Canola
- Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
- Cover Artist: Darick Robertson (cover A)
- Publisher: Titan Comics
- Release Date: February 19, 2025
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #18:
Recap:
When we last left Conan and Bêlit in Conan the Barbarian #17, the adventuring partners and lovers stopped at a seedy seaport of Kyros for a weekend getaway. One night, their room was invaded by a trio of robbers who assumed the couple was royalty and would have plenty of precious jewels to offer up after their throats were slit. Unfortunately, the robbers met death that night, save one, who offered the plan to steal a precious treasure in exchange for her life.
Plot Analysis:
In Conan the Barbarian #18, the romantic getaway turned adventure commences. Conan and Bêlit make a pack with the last thief, Tarnasha, to steal the treasure and split the spoils in exchange for mutual loyalty to the mission. The next day, they discuss the details. Tarnasha explains a group of visiting Stygians have come to Kyros to buy an ancient relic from the town’s Libradicio. They don’t know what the relic is, but the purchase is scheduled for tonight. To prevent the possibility of a double-cross, Bêlit will create a distraction for the guards at the Libradicio’s front gate while Conan and Tarnasha sneak in through a window.
That night, Bêlit creates a commotion at the front gates by posing as a madame, leading a procession of beautiful dancers and musicians to see the Master of the house. Meanwhile, Conan and Tarnasha watch the sale of the relic, a dual-pointed dagger called the Fangs of the Serpent, from the rafters above the meeting room. The Libradicio, however, makes it explicitly clear that he would be willing to show the relic and entertain offers without a commitment to sell. When the Stygian envoy confirms the dagger is real, he kills the Libradicio and his bodyguards.
Conan and Tarnasha drop down from the rafters to confront the Stygians and steal the dagger. Unfortunately for them, the dagger has magical properties, transforming the lead Stygian into a superhumanly strong lizard man. The Stygian stabs Conan in the gut with the dagger, but before he can deliver the killing blow, Bêlit forces herself into the main library and kills the lizard man with a well-thrown dagger.
The issue ends with Tarnasha fleeing with the dagger while Bêlit tends to Conan, Bêlit vowing to kill Tarnasha for her deceit, and the Master of the Black Ring, who sent the Stygian for the dagger, promising Doom to whoever stole it.
First Impressions:
Conan the Barbarian #18 is a perfectly fine conclusion to the two-parter depicting Conan and Bêlit on a brief adventure that turns out badly. Is it the best adventure in the series? Not quite, but it’s still one of the better comic series on the market. For now, that’s enough.
Artwork and Presentation:
Danica Brine’s art style and execution make the grade for a Conan story that captures all the visual hallmarks of a Conan adventure, with strong action fights, a touch of the supernatural, and dynamic panels. Brine’s style doesn’t have quite the same level of detail and masculine power as Robert De La Torre and Doug Braithwaite, but it’s perfectly good for a light two-parter.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Conan the Barbarian #18 caps off the first story in the Titan series that shows two big positives for Conan fans. First, Jim Zub adds to his Robert E. Howard cred by showing how well Conan and Bêlit work together as lovers and allies. Second, the last page sets up the coming of a primary Conan villain to get Howard fans excited for the future.
The Negatives:
The two-parter, titled Fangs & Foolish Thieves, reads more like a quick interlude to set up bigger and better stories down the line. It would be unfair to call this story a transition arc, but it lacks the meatiness of Zub’s prior arcs in the series.
Final Thoughts:
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CONAN THE BARBARIAN #18 brings the two-parter to a close with bloody fights, magic, monsters, and more. Jim Zub nails the chemistry between Conan and Bêlit, demonstrating exactly why she is Conan’s greatest love, and Brine’s art is above average.
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