The Savage Sword of Conan #17 (Titan Comics, 11/11/26): A squad of writers and artists visits the Hyborian Age to spin a tale about Conan’s begotten daughter, a feline-friendly witch, and an unusual jewel. Verdict: A solid entry for Conan fans who need their fix.
Credits:
- Writer: Christy Marx, Zack Davisson, Frank Tieri
- Artist: Geof Isherwood, Ben Dewey, Adam Gorham
- Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
- Cover Artist: Alex Horley (cover A)
- Publisher: Titan Comics
- Release Date: November 11, 2026
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $6.99
- Page Count: 68
- Format: Anthology
Covers:
Analysis of The Savage Sword of Conan #17:
First Impressions:
When Titan announces a new Conan comic, that’s an instant ‘yes’ for the pull list, so it’s no surprise that we decided to give Savage Sword a go. Unsurprisingly, Titan delivered another winning anthology.
Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):
Child of Cimmeria (Marx, Isherwood)
Râ Morgan learns from her sorceress mother that she’s the daughter of Conan of Cimmeria. Determined to understand her lineage, Morgana sets out under the assumed name of Conara to find the barbarian. Along the way, she instinctively learns to fight with assorted weapons and meets fellow adventurers, such as the Pirate Queen Valeria. Eventually, she finds King Conan of Aquilonia and shares many drinks and wistful tales before Conara sets out to find her own glory and kingdom to rule.
Christy Marx adds color and depth to Conan’s mythology when one of his trysts begets a daughter who’s a chip off the old block. Admittedly, the story is a sedate tale of travel and discovery, which is light on the world-shattering adventures Conan is known for, but if the goal was to establish a worthy character in the Conan mythos who could spin off into new adventures, Marx’s tale is a decent start. Plus, Geof Isherwood’s artwork is a glorious fit for the B&W anthology format, set in the Hyborian Age.
Conan and the Cat Witch of Khitai (Davisson, Dewey)
A young Conan joins up with a gang of kidnappers who steal Princess Miyuki of Khitai for sale to the highest bidder. Despite his partnership, kidnapping a princess doesn’t sit well with the Cimmerian. The band heads into a forbidden mountain where a malevolent witch is said to live, but their leader, Akmet of Stygia, dismisses the concerns as myth. Instead, the myth turns out to be all too real when the Cat Witch of Khitai sends her demonic cats to do their worst and capture Princess Miyuki for a much darker purpose.
Zack Davisson’s tale of magic and monsters fits squarely into Conan’s mythology, working both as an adventure tale and a character-building moment for Conan at the beginning of his career. To be fair, more character work goes into the growing contention between Akmet and Conan than into focusing on the present threat of the Witch, which leads to an abrupt conclusion, but the story works well enough. Likewise, Ben Dewey’s artwork is clean, clear, and energetic, which fits a Conan tale to a tee.
Conan: The Jewel (Tieri, Gorham)
Conan and the band of mercenaries he currently runs with receive an offer to steal a precious jewel. The rewards in coin and wealth are vast. After fighting impossible odds, only two mercenaries remain, including Conan, but their relief turns to outrage when they learn the jewel is a little girl named Jewel, a hostage. When they return the girl to their employer, they learn he has no money to give and he lied to get his daughter back. Before the confrontation is done, one more body will fall to the floor.
Frank Tieri’s tale of deception and death rings true for Conan’s sometimes bad luck. The barbarian is frequently tricked into performing impossible tasks, but the ending is where this short tale shines. Furthermore, Adam Gorham’s minimalist art does a fine job of capturing the mood and the intensity of each panel, even if the details are light.
Characters
Conan is the star of two of the three stories in this issue, which gives Conan fans a fair helping until the next issue of his ongoing series is released. The third and main story – which focuses on Conan’s daughter – builds out the new creation by suggesting that Conan’s superhuman prowess goes far deeper than just his muscles.
Originality & Concept Execution
All three tales are original, but they do hint at or suggest a connection to previously published works. For example, Conara and her mother are original creations, but the setup of their history rings true.
Pros and Cons
Art Samples:
The Scorecard:
Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 3/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 2/2
Final Thoughts:
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The Savage Sword of Conan #17 unveils three tales of high adventure: Conan’s begotten daughter seeks out her destiny, young Conan makes a fateful choice about freedom, and Conan, the famed mercenary, is hired to steal something precious. All three tales make the grade for an authentic Robert E. Howard feel and strong art.
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