CONAN THE BARBARIAN #5, by Titan Comics on 11/22/23, finds the Cimmerian fallen in with a band of thieves who accept a mission to retrieve a dark jewel with a darker origin.
The Details
- Written by: Jim Zub
- Art by: Doug Braithwaite
- Colors by: Diego Rodriguez
- Letters by: Richard Starkings
- Cover art by: Mike Deodato Jr.
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: November 20, 2023
Is CONAN THE BARBARIAN #5 Good?
Jim Zub kicks off his sophomore arc of the series with an older, jaded, and more sullen Conan after his classic adventures of fortune-hunting and love on the high seas aboard The Tigress. In CONAN THE BARBARIAN #5, Zub crafts a grimmer yet listless Conan who struggles to overcome his recent losses, but the new challenge he encounters may just be the motivation Conan needs to enter his next stage of adventure.
When last we left Conan, he defeated the darkness waiting at the heart of the Black Stone citadel to rescue his fellow Cimmerians and end a zombie plague. Now, we catch up with Conan a few years later, after his swashbuckling days on the high seas ended in heartbreak and death. Working as savage muscle for a gang of thieves, the Gloryhounds, in Shadizar, Conan cares not for anyone or anything except coin and ale. When the Gloryhounds are hired to steal a precious black jewel, Conan is confronted with the darkness from Cimmeria once again.
New readers unfamiliar with Conan lore may find the massive time jump, during which so much happens, an odd choice. However, jumping forward in time gives Titan the opportunity to tell more stories without conflicting with existing canon, and the preface information gives you plenty of information about the intervening years without missing a step. This is a smart way to show respect for the source material and encourage new readers to check out the classics.
What’s great about CONAN THE BARBARIAN #5? Jim Zub’s version of the character has evolved. Leaping from the first arc to this one, Zub incorporates the burdens of Conan’s losses and struggles into his voice and demeanor. Rather than simply putting Conan through a rinse/repeat cycle of adventures, you get the sense of traveling with Conan on the journey of his life.
What’s not so great about CONAN THE BARBARIAN #5? Admittedly, Conan’s change in demeanor from issue #4 to issue #5 is jarring. The difference is explained in the time jump and done for a good reason, but newer readers may feel left behind.
How’s the art? Doug Braithwaite joins the title as the main artist, and while his style is markedly different from Robert de la Torre’s Bronze Age aesthetic, Braithwaite’s pencils/inks are an outstanding fit for Zub’s story. Braithwaite’s panel compositions are dramatic, and the character designs are perfect.
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What’s CONAN THE BARBARIAN #5 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our CONAN THE BARBARIAN #4 review to find out how Conan saved Cimmeria from an undead nightmare.
We begin with a brief prologue describing the satisfying adventures and tragic heartbreak during Conan’s time aboard the Tigress. With his lust for life savagely killed, Conan spends his drunken nights with the Gloryhounds, a band of thieves who take mercenary jobs for hard-to-steal items in Shadizar.
One night, the Gloryhounds are hired to steal a precious jewel from the temple of Bel, an impenetrable fortress of a temple dedicated to the patron god of thievery. Utilizing disguises, backdoor deliveries, and expert safecracking, the Gloryhounds infiltrate the temple and find the requested jewel. However, as soon as Conan lays his eyes on the black thing, the torments of his past greet him.
We conclude the issue with wicked memories, a warning, and a warning heeded too late.
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Final Thoughts
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CONAN THE BARBARIAN #5 catches up with an older and jaded Conan for a new adventure that ties the present to the past. Zub’s picture of a more mature Conan gives the series the weight of continuity and importance, while the addition of Braithwaite on pencils/inks is a welcome change in style.
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