CONAN THE BARBARIAN #20, by Titan Comics on 4/16/25, continues Conan’s battle against the shapeshifting mystic, Zula, to be free of a snake god’s influence.
Credits:
- Writer: Jim Zub
- Artist: Doug Braithwaite
- Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
- Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
- Cover Artist: Roberto De La Torre (cover A)
- Publisher: Titan Comics
- Release Date: April 16, 2025
- Comic Rating: Mature (gore, nudity)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 34
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #20:
Recap:
When we last left the Cimmerian in Conan the Barbarian #19, Conan wandered, grief-stricken, the jungles of the Black Kingdoms after the death of his one true love. The issue ends with Conan battling a mystical panther, but when the battle ends in a stalemate, the beast reveals itself to be a shaman named Zula.
Plot Analysis:
In Conan the Barbarian #20, the first fight against Zula is over, but the second round is just beginning. Zula attacks with the ferocity of a predator. During the fight, Zula proclaims he and his people will always be enemies of the snake god, Set, and Conan carries the scent of the snake god within him. Conan fights on but insists he is no Stygian or a follower of Set. Zula changes into a panther again as Conan gets his hands on the Pict sword lying on the ground. Conan gets the upper hand and demands the panther yield.
The panther transforms again, but this time, assuming the form of a beautiful warrior woman. Zula tells Conan that a marge monument will become visible at sunrise miles across the jungle. If what he says is true, he must race to the monument, survive jungle dangers, and face a final trial to prove his worth and word. Zula transforms into a crow and flies away.
At dawn, Conan sees the monument and immediately races through the jungle to reach it. When Conan reaches the top of the great statue, he finds Zula waiting next to a ritual circle. Conan agrees to submit to Zula’s ritual, which draws out a snake-like demon from the wound Conan sustained in Conan the Barbarian #18. Zula is unable to defeat the demon alone, but Conan finds the strength to rise and slay the demon with his Pict sword.
The issue ends with Tarnasha, the thief who fled with The Fangs of the Serpent dagger in Conan the Barbarian #18, arriving in Asgalun to sell the dagger to a shady broker. However, Tarnasha’s back-stabbing ways come to a painful and fitting end.
First Impressions:
After a weak two-parter and a solid actioner that’s light on plot, Jim Zub gets the series back to a familiar footing that’s as rock-solid as hardened steel. You get intense action, a brief nod to the Conan films, and an unexpected yet satisfying ending.
Artwork and Presentation:
Regular artist Doug Braithwaite can do no wrong when Conan is forced to fight against a mystic with shape-changing powers, forcing the mighty barbarian to switch tactics and opponents in the fight of his life. Braithwaite’s line work is as crisp as ever, and we noticed an uptick in dark shadows to amp up the drama, which is a welcome update.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Jim Zub’s tale of woe could better be described as a “Tale of Whoa!” when Conan is forced to fight a squad of warriors and beasts occupying a single body. Zub’s handle on the meaty, macho aspects of the titular character is dead solid perfect, and the unexpected ending elevates a previous and admittedly weaker arc.
The Negatives:
Nope, there’s not a blessed thing wrong with this comic. You’d be hard-pressed to find anything remotely resembling a flaw or nitpick.
Big Picture:
Historical Context:
In the Plot Synopsis, we mentioned a nod to one of the Conan films. Traditionally, Zula is portrayed as a large, hardened jungle warrior, mystic, and man. In the film, Conan the Destroyer (1984), Zula was played by famous, singer, artist, and model Grace Jones. When Zula transforms into a female warrior prior to sending Conan on his quest, the physical similarities to Grace Jones’s version of Zula are unmistakable. If it’s a coincidence, it’s a heck of a coincidence.
Final Thoughts:
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CONAN THE BARBARIAN #20 is a fantastic return to form for the series when Conan is forced to deal with the demons of his past during a jungle quest. Jim Zub’s voice for Conan and reverence for Robert E. Howard’s style are in top form, and Doug Braithwaite’s art is fantastic.
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