KING CONAN #5, from Marvel Comics on June 1st, 2022, reveals the tragic history of Thoth-Amon’s quest for power and his deadly pact with the snake god, Set.
The Details
- Written By: Jason Aaron
- Art By: Mahmud Asrar
- Colors By: Matthew Wilson
- Letters By: VC’s Travis Lanham
- Cover Art By: Mahmud Asrar (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: June 1, 2022
Was It Good?
KING CONAN #5 is yet another captivating entry in the surprising run by Jason Aaron. Mingling flashbacks with the present, readers are given a tragic history of Thoth-Amon’s youth and the sequence of events that led him to sacrifice every shred of humanity within his soul to become master of the world.
Before you get too put off, this isn’t another example of a creator’s attempt to make a villain “relatable” or “misunderstood”. This version of Thoth-Amon is wicked to the core, and his backstory does nothing to change that. However, we learn just how far the black wizard is willing to go to secure his power and how the difficulties of his childhood only served to make his choices easier.
Conan makes an appearance in this issue, but his presence serves as a mix of a cameo and setup for the next issue. Conan’s presence, however, is still meaningful, and he pushes the story forward by taking the fight to Prima on the cursed island and giving Thoth-Amon a taste of what it means to be a barbarian.
Aaron’s success in both this issue and the series as a whole is how he’s able to layer on multiple storylines filled with complex drama and emotions. Thoth-Amon is evil and tortured, and you can feel the weight of those emotions through Thoth-Amon’s frustration at not achieving his goals. Aaron shows an impressive mastery of layers in this issue.
Asra’s art, again, is a perfect match for this material. The thick, powerful lines complement the brooding mood f the setting. The facial acting of every character is cinematic, and Wilson’s colors are darn near perfect.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
If you don’t recall how Thoth-Amon and Conan partnered up, first read our KING CONAN #4 review.
We begin with a flashback to Thoth-Amon’s youth after he was sent to a seminary to study the dark arts under the Priests of Set. Thoth-Amon’s arrogant defiance makes him a poor student, soon making him an object of scorn among his classmates as they receive punishment for his failures. As his studies reach a final test, Thoth-Amon offers a massive sacrifice that grants him an audience with Set to strike a blasphemous bargain.
Over the ears, Set guides Thoth-Amon to seek out the Serpent Ring that will grant the wearer immense power. Thoth-Amon is eager to rule the world, but possessing the ring is not enough. He must unlock the ring’s full potential with blood and sacrifice.
Now, Thoth-Amon recalls how he came to be on the cursed island, leading him to his current predicament. Conan follows Thoth-Amon through the caves to find the source of the curse, but the way is blocked. We conclude the issue with a new discovery, a fiery plan, and a new feeling for Thoth-Amon.
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Final Thoughts
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KING CONAN #5 takes a slight break from the action to build out Thoth-Amon’s character with surprising depth and complexity. The pacing is excellent, the narration hits the right tone for this material, and the art is spectacular.
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