CONAN THE BARBARIAN #24 – New Comic Review

Conan the Barbarian #24, by Titan Comics on 9/10/25, throws the Cimmerian straight into the venomous jaws of Stygian sorcery and gladiatorial chaos.

Credits:

• Writer: Jim Zub
• Artist: Fernando Dagnino
• Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
• Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
• Cover Artist: Dan Panosian (cover A)
• Publisher: Titan Comics
• Release Date: September 10, 2025
• Comic Rating: Mature (gore, nudity)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Page Count: 34
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #24:

First Impressions:

The comic grabs the reader by the throat, refusing to let go until the last page sizzles under torchlight. Old enemies, haunted tunnels, and colossal man-serpents create a pulse-quickening ride for fans and newcomers alike. At times, the story’s serpentine twists feel as wild as Conan’s untamable mane itself.

Recap:

In Conan the Barbarian #23, Conan incapacitated the sorceress Athyr-Bast with help from Zula, who shape-shifted to infiltrate Thoth-Amon’s tower. Within the sanctuary, Thoth-Amon revealed a secret plot involving Set’s Brood beneath the city streets. The reunion turned tense, but the two managed to escape, only to discover that Athyr-Bast had slipped away, and the city’s war horns sounded—all hell about to break loose.

Plot Analysis:

Conan finds himself reeling in Kheshatta’s streets, accused as a traitor and hunted by the sorceress Athyr-Bast, who thirsts for revenge. Zula, his grassland ally and rival to snake worshippers, joins him underground as they evade Athyr-Bast’s wrath and the city’s guards—their uneasy alliance hanging by a thread. As they descend through winding tunnels, Zula taps the power of a mystic amulet—previously used to trap a snake-born spirit inside Conan—to infiltrate deeper into the city’s secrets.

While dodging enchanted traps, the pair unlock a massive door and stumble into a monstrous breeding chamber: man-serpents, twisted and huge, writhe in the gloom. Conan engages one of these “children” of Set, swords flashing. Paralyzed by the serpent’s emerald gaze, old memories haunt him, but Zula’s timely scream yanks Conan back to reality, unleashing chaos among the serpents as fires rage and magical bonds shatter.

Fighting through confusion, Conan smashes the accursed amulet, freeing Zula and weakening the monstrous brood. The warriors carve their way out and escape into the chaos above, where the city is engulfed in riot and flame. Athyr-Bast is summoned to the Obsidian Tower to recapture prisoners and suppress fires as Conan races to fulfill his promise—rescuing the enslaved Livia.

Conan fights his way through guards and crowds, reaching Athyr-Bast’s sanctum for a dramatic confrontation with Livia. The revelation that Livia is mentally controlled by the sorceress deepens the wound as he throws herself from the tower window by Athyr-Bast’s command, ending with Athyr-Bast’s ominous promise to break Conan—and a sense of loss weighing down the battered champion. Smoke rising over the desert, Conan swears off Stygia forever—though fate has other plans.

Story

Jim Zub returns with dialogue as sharp as a broadsword. Every exchange bristles with tension, especially between Conan and Zula. The pacing is brisk, blending philosophical musings (serpent metaphors aplenty) and punchy action set pieces. Even moments of exposition are laced with wit, making the plot easy to follow without dragging its feet.

Art

Fernando Dagnino’s art is electric. The gladiatorial scenes explode with movement—the tunnels are as dark and claustrophobic as a snake’s den. Diego Rodriguez’s colors saturate the pages in moody reds, greens, and sickly yellows, turning the man-serpents into literal nightmares. Visual storytelling is at its peak when flames and battle collide in the brooding underworld and chaotic city streets.

Characters

Conan is at his most ferocious, his internal struggles providing depth as he faces literal and metaphorical monsters. Zula’s cunning, magical gifts, and conflicted loyalties shape the story’s emotional core. Athyr-Bast makes for a formidable, menacing villain. Even the man-serpents possess an eerie, mythic presence, reminiscent of Howard’s classic rogues.

Positives

The comic’s greatest strength is its relentless momentum—every scene drives the characters deeper into danger while maintaining taut suspense. The interplay between Conan and Zula blends grudging respect and biting humor, making their partnership unpredictable. Dagnino’s visuals shine, especially in the serpentine lair and heated battles, drawing readers into the heart of Hyborian darkness.

Negatives

On the downside, some emotional beats between Conan and Zula resolve a bit too quickly, and readers seeking more characterization for Athyr-Bast may be left wanting. The exposition around the mystic amulet feels rushed in spots, and the overall chaos means a few narrative transitions blur together. Not all of the city’s turmoil receives full closure, leaving some plot threads hissing in the shadows.

Art Samples:

Final Thoughts:

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CONAN THE BARBARIAN #24 slices through the usual fantasy fare with venomous wit and visual power, just the way a comic starring the Cimmerian should. If only more villainous sorceresses and snake monsters could inspire chaos this captivating. This issue proves that even after all these years, Conan’s “gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth” are just what sword-and-sorcery fans deserve. Next time someone asks for epic fantasy, hand them this comic… just watch out for amulets and man-serpents along the way.

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