There are a lot of comics out there, but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we say goodbye to Marvel’s time in the Hyborean Age with “King Conan,” by Jason Aaron and Mahmud Asrar.
Who is this by?
“King Conan” is written by Jason Aaron, who you probably know for his current work on “The Avengers.” Or perhaps you know him for his work on “Jane Foster: Valkyrie,” or “War of the Realms,” or several volumes of “Thor.” Look, he’s done a lot at Marvel, bringing in epic storytelling and strong dialogue to carry any number of comics and characters.
He’s joined by Mahmud Asrar, who’s also known for his art for comics like “X-Men Red,” “Supergirl,” and “Dynamo 5,” in addition to many, many excellent covers. This isn’t the first time he and Jason Aaron have worked on Conan before, having previously teamed up for several issues of “Conan the Barbarian.”
Matthew Wilson provides the colors. Readers may recognize him for his work on comics like “Marauders,” “Runaways,” and “The Mighty Thor” (another Jason Aaron comic; it’s like he’s getting the crew back together). Outside of Marvel, he’s provided the colors for comics like “Phonogram,” “Wonder Woman,” and “The Wicked + The Divine,” so he’s worked on some highly well-regarded comics.
In short: it’s got an experienced creative team that’s used to working together, and it shows.
What’s it all about?
Conan the Barbarian has gone through a lot in his violent life, but eventually, he becomes a king. So what happens after?
“King Conan” follows Conan in his twilight years through two stories. The first involves him and his son, Conn, as Conan fears his son has grown soft growing up in a castle, and tries to banish him. What follows is a fight between father and son, so both Conan and the readers can see if Conn is ready to take over as king.
The second story is of Conan after he abdicated the throne to his son. Shipwrecked and cast away on a zombie-filled island, he has to team up with longtime foe Thoth-Amon to escape the island and its Princess Prima, who wants him to take her place and be magically bound to the island.
At only six issues, it doesn’t have the room for a massive, universe-spanning plot like many of Jason Aaron’s other comics, but in this case, that’s for the best. It’s a self-contained story that can focus on Conan, making it easy for anyone to pick up and hop in on.
In short, “King Conan” is in many ways a traditional Conan story, but also one that attempts to bookend many key points of his character’s story – which is important if this is truly to be his last stand.
What makes it so great?
What makes any great “Conan the Barbarian” story? Epic violence, dark fantasy, and a powerful narration that carries you through from the first page to the last. It’s all there in “King Conan.”
“King Conan” is also Marvel’s last run with the character before the rights transfer to Titan Comics, so the whole team wants to make sure they go out on a high note. Everyone brings their A-game to “King Conan,” and it shows.
Story-wise, it has two strong points going for it: the focus on Conan’s family and legacy through the scenes with Conn, and a final showdown where enemies have to become reluctant allies in the scenes with Thoth-Amon. It also carries a sense of dread and high stakes, so that readers aren’t sure if this really will be Conan’s last fight or not. Combined, these elements make for a solid capstone to Conan’s story.
Mahmud Asrar’s art and Matthew Wilson’s color work do an excellent job bringing the story to life. Mahmud’s illustrations are detailed, but have an almost painting-like quality to them, making them well fitting for an epic fantasy story. He does a particularly fine job at bringing out the big action scenes, from crowded battles to close-up fights between characters. And Matthew’s colors add a vibrancy to it, mixing fires and dark skies, all the colors of magic, and bright sunny days or dark caves with equal skill.
Continued belowSo not only does it look great, it has a look perfectly suited for Conan’s themes, style, and genre.
Now, let’s acknowledge one thing that’s far from great: this comic absolutely messed up earlier in its run when it introduced a scantily-clad woman named after a historical indigenous person. It was insensitive, played into far too many outdated tropes and offensive stereotypes, and someone at Marvel really should have caught it before the issue went to print. And while Jason Aaron did apologize, and the character’s name and design have been changed, it was still a mistake that did happen. As such, this week’s “Don’t Miss This” comes with a big asterisk, noting that, even after it was changed, that knowledge can be a dealbreaker.
However, as this issue does still signal the end of Conan’s time at Marvel, it’s still a landmark issue for the famous barbarian. If just for that reason alone, fans of Conan won’t want to miss it.
How can you read it?
You can find chapters 1-5 of “King Conan” at your friendly local comic shop, as well as online on Marvel.com and Comixology. A paperback collecting the six-issue run is set to release this August, and you can find trade paperbacks of Conan’s previous Marvel adventures (including “Savage Avengers”) everywhere comics are sold.
