Conan the Barbarian #35 Review – Valeria Stands Alone

Conan the Barbarian #35 (Titan Comics, 9/30/26): Writer Jim Zub & artist Fernando Dagnino unveil Morley’s plan to bring about a New World Order, with Conan as the key sacrifice. Jim Zub’s supernatural tale strikes at the heart of what makes Conan stories singular. Verdict: A killer arc in more ways than one.

• Writer: Jim Zub
• Artist: Fernando Dagnino
• Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
• Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
• Cover Artist: Gerardo Zaffino (cover A)
• Publisher: Titan Comics
• Release Date: September 30, 2026
• Comic Rating: Mature
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of Conan the Barbarian #35:

First Impressions:

We’ve been loving this arc so far, which means expectations were high coming into this issue. Thankfully, Jim Zub and the art team do NOT disappoint.

Recap:

Stranded on an abandoned island in Conan the Barbarian #34, Conan led the surviving crew of the Briney Wren in search of food and shelter, only to encounter a herd of herbivore dinosaurs attacked by three deadly lizards. Conan, Valeria, and Morley each helped bring down one of the beasts before the crew settled in for the night and drew straws for watch duty. During the first watch, Morley ambushed Valeria after revealing he was possessed by the red-eyed force from the storm, then summoned the acolytes of Joggta-Noga to capture the crew, only for the cultists to discover Conan was missing.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

Conan the Barbarian #35 focuses (mostly) on Valeria. She wakes up in a cavern among many of the captured from the Briney Wren. Now revealed as a villain in this story, Morley explains that he’s delighted to feed everyone to Joggta-Noga in exchange for power and as a show of loyalty to the eldritch horror. The feeding will culminate in Joggta-Noga’s emergence on Earth to rule with Morley at the entity’s side. All they need now is Conan to complete the cycle.

Meanwhile, Conan sticks to the jungle and systematically slaughters the cult members searching for him. Morley learns of the thinning of the cult, but he’s unmoved. Valeria finds an opportunity to escape, but she’s too late to stop Captain Quinn from becoming Joggta-Noga’s next meal. Outraged, she attacks Morley but loses due to his enhanced strength and power. But before Morley can deliver the killing blow, Conan arrives to settle the score.

How is the story in Conan the Barbarian #35?

Jim Zub’s latest entry in the arc delivers everything you want in a Conan adventure. There are meaningful fight scenes, supernatural monsters, deaths, and a prevalent sense that Conan, even when he’s not the focal character, is a force to be reckoned with. Zub gives you all of that in spades, which makes this issue a winner.

How is the art in Conan the Barbarian #35?

Fernando Dagnino was an excellent pick for this arc because his brand of Bronze Age-inspired linework, kinetic action, and deep, dramatic shadows frames this tale beautifully. Plus, Diego Rodriguez’s color selection for the “monster” scenes evokes and leans into the Lovecraftian inspirations for this issue. The issue looks fantastic.

Characters

Conan is a powerful force in this issue, but Valeria takes the center spot as she learns about Morley’s plan, finds a painful-yet-effective way to escape, and summons the courage to take on Morley, even when she’s outmatched. This issue establishes Valeria as Conan’s equal, at least in heart if not in muscle.

Originality & Concept Execution

To be blunt, eldritch horrors from beyond time and space are a regular fixture in Conan tales since the very beginning, so the concept is hardly original, but the execution and little creative choices are darn near immaculate, so Conan fans will feel this issue is mildly familiar while still wholly enjoyable.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Fantastic art
• Great character building for Valeria
• Conan’s mythology gets a strong bump

Room for Improvement

• A cosmic monster has been done before
• The obelisk at the shore is referenced for unclear reasons
• Valeria’s escape is a tad too easy

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 4/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1.5/2

Final Thoughts:

(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)

Conan the Barbarian #35 is another winning issue in a winning arc. Jim Zub’s tale of Conan and his allies confronting a cosmic horror ranks up there with the best of Robert E. Howard’s stories, and the art is a gorgeous fit for the material.

---

---

---

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.