Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King #2 Review – Battling Demons From Within And Without

Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King #2 (Titan Comics, 10/21/26): Writer Jim Zub & artist Jesus Merino send two warriors on very different paths. Conan escorts Zuleika to her village, wary of the poison she carries, while John Costigan becomes a willing slave to Thulsa Doom. Jim Zub’s multi-era crossover establishes a loathsome threat with surprising twists. Verdict: A solid entry in the crossover.

• Writer: Jim Zub
• Artist: Jesus Merino
• Colorist: Jao Canola
• Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
• Cover Artist: Jesus Merino (cover A)
• Publisher: Titan Comics
• Release Date: October 21, 2026
• Comic Rating: Mature
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King #2:

First Impressions:

Titan’s near-perfect run with the Conan property elicits an immediate pull whenever one of their comics pops up on the list. Is this the best Conan comic ever? No, but it gets pretty close.

Recap:

Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King #1 began in the Thurian Age, as an ancient Pict shaman witnesses the approaching Woeful Eye, a cosmic monster bent on consuming all life across time and space, prompting the Picts to prepare for battle. In the Hyborian Age, Conan saves a beautiful woman named Zuleika from an undead attacker and learns she’s carrying a vial of the same green resurrection fluid that brought Thulsa Doom back to life, while in 1924 London, Sailor Stephen Costigan follows Zuleika into an alley, fights off her attacker, and is led to a chamber where a disembodied voice offers him the mysterious liquid to restore his mind and body. The issue ends with a hooded, axe-wielding figure searching for Conan.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

In Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King #2, the narrative splits between the far past and the near present. In 1924, Jim Costigan gives in to his need to be free from shell shock and the pain of battles past. He drinks the green liquid, restoring his mental faculties and physical prowess. Unfortunately, the liquid enslaves him to a shadowy presence that we soon learn is the lingering spirit of Thulsa Doom, bent on resurrection and world dominance.

Costigan restoration comes at a cost. If he doesn’t obey Doom’s command, the green liquid in his veins will end his life in torturous pain. His first assignment? Invade the home of and kill a man named Professor Jim Kirowan.

In the Hyborian Age, Conan wakes from a vivid dream during an escort mission to bring Zuleika to her ailing lover. They continue their trek, and while they walk, Conan questions Zuleika about the green liquid she claims is meant to heal her lover. She explains that he was enslaved to a dark presence, and that he needs the green liquid that plagues his body with terrific agony.

Suddenly, the travelers are attacked by rabid wolves. In the past, Conan fights off the wild canines. In the near-present, Costigan scales the wall surrounding Kirowan’s home and battles – bare-handed – a trio of guard dogs protecting the property.

The issue ends with the revelation that the axe-wielding figure from issue #1 is the resurrected ally of Conan, Hydallan.

How is the story in Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King #2?

JimZub walks a fine line by balancing two parallel threads that are mirror images of each other. On the one hand, Conan’s escort mission plays out like a fairly standard Conan adventure. On the other, Costigan – an admittedly less familiar character to most readers – takes a darker turn when desperation clouds his judgment. The contrast is the selling point of this issue, especially when the threat is common and stretched across eons. In general, I liked this issue, but I would have liked it more if there were more surprise or pop within the unfolding plot.

How is the art in Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King #2?

Jesus Merino’s art style and execution are excellent. Conan is in his best, masculine form, dispatching a threat in the form of a pack of wolves. Conversely, Costigan undergoes a mystical transformation when he consumes the green liquid, which plays out well on the page. Plus, Jao Canola makes excellent use of color to give the panels vibrancy and flair to hold your attention.

Characters

If it wasn’t obvious, the issue is primarily split between Conan and Costigan. Conan is in his element, guarding the beautiful damsel and defending against wild beasts. Furthermore, Conan uses his experience and critical thinking to sniff out Zuleika’s shady dealings. Costigan shows the most character range when his decision to take Doom’s offer transforms him from a broken ex-soldier to an invigorated assassin who enjoys his newfound power.

Originality & Concept Execution

Thulsa Doom is a regular villain in Conan lore, but Jim Zub is taking the most original path possible by treating Doom as the devil who manipulates and tempts from beyond the grave to get his way. Spanning eons gives Doom a generational bent to his character, which is something Robert E. Howard never got a chance to do. On multiple levels, Zub is building on Howard’s legacy the right way.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Strong, vibrant art
• Interesting narrative contrast between heroes
• Thulsa Doom is becoming a generational villain

Room for Improvement

• The issue lacks pop or surprise
• Conan’s exploits are vanilla
• Costigan’s villainous turn seems out of character

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

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

Final Thoughts:

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Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King #2 finds Conan battling beasts of the woods, while Steve Costigan battles his inner demons, all under the watchful eye of Thulsa Doom. Jim Zub’s eon-spanning tale takes Costigan and Thulsa Doom in interesting directions, and the art team’s delivery is top-notch.

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