Conan the Barbarian Vol. 1 - Bound in Black Stone by Jim Zub
Blurb:
He forged a whole new genre – sword and sorcery. He spawned a thousand imitators and after 90 years he’s still going strong!
He is CONAN THE BARBARIAN – THE GREATEST WARRIOR FO ALL TIMES! And he’s back for a whole new epic saga in search of high adventure and battle. CROM!
Pirate! Thief! Mercenary and warrior, the legendary Conan the Barbarian is back! Armed with just his wits and his sword, Conan sets out for the first time from his beloved Cimmeria in search of glory and adventure.
Often copied, but never bettered, this is the welcome return of the first and mightiest hero ever to stride the world.
On the eve of his first major battle, young Conan of Cimmeria pictures a life beyond the borders of his homeland and yearns for a life of adventure undreamt of in his small village. Visions of future allies and unspeakable evils he will eventually encounter throughout his fabled career fill his mind, as he makes the choice to take his first fateful step into the Hyborian Age.
For fans of heroic blood-soaked action-adventure and ancient arcane wizardry!
Collects Conan the Barbarian #1-4 and the 2023 Free Comic Book Day issue.
Review:
Sword & Sorcery… an all-time classic genre, started with none other than Conan the Barbarian, created by the legendary Robert E. Howard! I’ve been meaning to get into these adventures for a long time, and finally, here we are. It left me fully satisfied and wanting for more! And funnily enough, this review has been in the works for ages as well, and now it can see the light of the day at last.
For fans of heroic blood-soaked action-adventure and ancient arcane wizardry!
Yeah, say less. I’m in!
What’s it about?
Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet…
The savage son of a blacksmith who would one day wear a crown…
Searching for meaning in the wider world…
He longed for a challenge that could truly test his might.
And the time has come…
Welcome to The Hyborian Age. A time when Conan walked the earth.
A young Conan experiences his first major battle – the sack of Venarium. And although his sword tastes much blood, his mind and soul isn’t satisfied; in turn yearning for even more blood-thirsty encounters and equally challenging adventures across the lands in search of the ultimate glory. And thus, he steps out into an unknown and endangered world beyond his small village in the homeland of Cimmeria…
Years later, in the present time, the mighty warrior is met by a scout – Brissa of the Gurian tribe, who has some seriously unsettling news…
A horde of invaders is on the march; an unnatural, cursed, army of the lost; possessed by an unearthly darkness; relentless, merciless, and thorough. A highly dangerous prospect posing a direct threat to Conan's birthplace and the rest of the world.
Who is this mysterious scout, and what are her motivations? Can the Cimmerian mercenary trust this newfound ally? And more importantly, can the duo uncover the strange dark power that controls this ruthless new danger destroying everything in their path, and stop them before it’s too late?
What glory yet lays before him? What stories will be told of his grand adventures? It’s time to find out.
It is time indeed…
The good:
Every single thing. End of discussion…
I mean, starting off with the old school art style… LOVED IT! Suits much, much better to S & S in my opinion, and the team has pulled it off quite spectacularly. Talk about the lettering, dialogue boxes, and the excellent colouring and effects all round.
A superb plot full of action, adventure/drama, blood/gore, and a bit of “romance” thrown in for good measure; makes for an exciting read from start to finish.
The world/lore and the setting is very well depicted, and drew me in straight away.
The characters, especially the MC duo, are well penned and realized in this opening chapter of a brand new Conan saga.
And ultimately, it all leaves you wanting for more!
The “not so” good:
This section needn’t even exist for this review…
Highlights:
You are a seeker, Conan. A seeker, slayer, and survivor… and it’s far better to have seen the world than be trapped by it.
Other info.
A SICK map to begin with! (I REALLY love me some good maps!)
Collects issues #1-4, plus material from the Free Comic Book Day 2023 special edition issue.
A great amount of info. is present at the end about various topics like the history of Conan as a character, the sack of Venarium, and Robert E. Howard’s life and works.
And as mentioned – A Cimmerian unleashed is terrifying to behold… and what better way to relaunch such a storied character, then a recounting of the first significant event of his youth: the sack of Venarium?
Also, character sketches plus an additional gallery section with loads of beautiful and amazing covers and their artists are on display.
Content Warning: Blood/gore; partial nudity; adult/mature themes throughout.
Final thoughts:
This was a full-blown feast of a read in every sense of the word! Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian has served as an inspiration for many works down the years, and you can tell why that is the case. And although this was my first-ever adventure featuring the beloved barbarian, it most certainly won’t be the last! Sword and Sorcery done right… and how so! This was easily one of the better graphic novels that I’ve come across without any doubt. Every aspect, every trope, all was very well done. Nothing more to add except that you need to get to it right now. HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!
