Conan the Barbarian #36 Review – A Battle Across Time and Space

Conan the Barbarian #36 (Titan Comics, 10/28/26): Writer Jim Zub and artist Fernando Dagnino conclude the Cursed Shores Beyond arc when Conan comes face-to-face with Jaggta-Noga. Jim Zub’s issue is equal parts exposition and action for a roaring end to the story. Verdict: A super strong finish.

• Writer: Jim Zub
• Artist: Fernando Dagnino
• Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
• Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
• Cover Artist: Mark Bagley (cover A)
• Publisher: Titan Comics
• Release Date: October 28, 2026
• Comic Rating: Mature
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of Conan the Barbarian #36:

First Impressions:

May Crom bless you with steel, the strength to use it, and the wisdom to know when. I had high expectations going into this issue, and Jim Zub and the team exceeded them.

Recap:

Conan the Barbarian #35 focuses mostly on Valeria, who awakens in a cavern among the captives from the Briney Wren as Morley reveals his plan to feed them to Joggta-Noga in exchange for power and help the eldritch horror emerge on Earth. Meanwhile, Conan systematically slaughters the cult members hunting him, while Valeria escapes and attempts to stop Morley, only to arrive too late to save Captain Quinn from becoming Joggta-Noga’s next meal. Outraged, Valeria attacks Morley but is overpowered by his enhanced strength, and just as he prepares to deliver the killing blow, Conan arrives to settle the score.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

The issue begins with a multi-part flashback that explains how Morley and the cult, so named the Noga Kinfolk, came to be on the island. The eldritch entity from beyond time and space, Jaggta-Noga, felt the disturbance in the Woeful Eye’s power when Conan slew Thulsa Doom during his time-travel adventure years ago. Since then, those influenced by the Woeful Eye across time and space have either scattered, warred with competing factions of believers, or formed new sects. Morley and the Noga Kinfolk are sworn to bring Jaggta-Noga into our dimension to take advantage of the power vacuum, and they need the traces of Set’s power in Conan’s blood to do it.

Now, Conan leaps into the ritual, cutting down the cult, leaving Morley for last. Their swords clash as Jaggta-Noga’s tentacles breach the portal, thanks to the dozens of sacrifices and Conan’s presence. Ultimately, Conan defeats Morley by throwing him into the portal to be consumed by Morley’s god. The tentacled foul one suddenly creates a vortex to suck Conan in, hoping to consume him and Set’s residual power to breach the portal for good, but Valeria saves the day with a helping hand.

The issue ends with Conan and Valeria enjoying the now-vacant island when a pirate ship breaches the horizon.

How is the story in Conan the Barbarian #36?

Banger among bangers. Jim Zub calls upon all his mortal powers to deliver a hammer blow of a finale to the arc. What’s most impressive about the issue is how the final battle didn’t come about as yet another Conan fight against a big boss, but as a result of multiple previous arcs that all culminated in this moment. To be fair, if you’ve read the series since the beginning, much of the first act’s information is known to you, so you might feel like the beginning is filler. That would be an honest reaction, but what makes it work so well is the little bits and pieces that Zub stitches together to turn outcomes from successful, previous stories into something brand new.

We’ll agree that the opening act is a reel of greatest hits, but the payoff more than makes up for it.

How is the art in Conan the Barbarian #36?

Fernando Dagnino was an inspired choice for the latest arc. The art has to do a lot of heavy lifting to portray an eldritch being from beyond, making it tangible and intimidating while partly ethereal. Dagnino meets the task handily, with disturbing creature designs and a final battle that brims with mystical energy, clashing steel, and pulse-pounding visuals.

Characters

Conan is the center of attention here. Not just because he’s Conan, but because Jim Zub slyly inserts events from previous arcs to make the Barbarian the key to Jaggta-Noga’s ascension. In that way, Conan’s fight for personal survival carries the extra weight of a fight to save humanity from becoming a tentacled god’s slave. When the realization hits, Conan steps up in every way possible.

Originality & Concept Execution

Conan doing battle to put Lovecraftian beings in their place is nothing new, but what makes this issue unique is the surprising number of connections to past adventures that serve as a web of connective tissue. As a bonus, readers who recognize the past exploits are essentially rewarded for being loyal, which is an example every publisher should follow.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Amazing art
• A final battle for the ages
• The connective tissue is a pleasant twist

Room for Improvement

• The recap explanation may take too long for some
• The epilogue could have been longer
• Wasn’t Set’s presence supposed to have been purged already?

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3.75/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 4/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1.75/2

Final Thoughts:

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Conan the Barbarian #36 brings the Cursed Shores Beyond arc to a close with a surprising backstory and a boisterous battle. Jim Zub rewards loyal readers with multiple callbacks that set the stage for a world-ending threat, and Fernando Dagnino’s art style is an amazing fit for a Conan story.

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