Comic Review: Conan the Barbarian (2019-) #1

Conan the Barbarian (2019-) #1

Marvel Comics

Writer: Jason Aaron

Artist: Mahmud Asrar

“Know, oh prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars . . .”

I think we’ve all become aware of Conan at some point. Whether you read the original novels by Robert E. Howard or saw the Schwarzenegger movies, the image of the barbarian of Cimmeria with long black hair and sword in hand is seared into the public consciousness. He certainly hasn’t been missed in the world of comics; after an impressive 275 issue run, a second series in Savage Sword of Conan, and a number of miniseries and strips, you could only see Marvel’s Conan in cameos and references. But you can’t keep a good barbarian down! Years after the end of his first series back in 1993, Conan the Barbarian officially returns to the pages of Marvel Comics in the first issue of a brand new series. Does it hold up? Ultimately, yes.

As far as straight up Conan goes, it’s a fairly basic return to form; but not in a bad way. We see Conan in his younger years, participating in gladiator matches against legions of foreign warriors, and again in his later years as King Conan of Aquilonia, “proudest kingdom of the world”. Through this, Aaron sets up the basic premise that the rest of the series will presumably take. In short, a brash, inexperienced Conan encounters a witch allied to dark forces, along with a prophecy that he will die at their hands: a prophecy that comes to haunt him again in the middle of his reign years later.

Aaron’s writing serves well enough for this groundwork. The pacing is tight, and progression from scene to scene feels organic. There are no needlessly wordy descriptions and the dialogue is punchy and bombastic, but not to the point of being melodramatic. Speaking of the dialogue, it’s that classic sword-and-sorcery style without feeling forced. More than anything, Aaron’s Conan feels like Conan. He’s belligerent for sure, but not to a mindless extent by any stretch, and exemplifies a sort of pragmatic wisdom as king of Aquilonia. The only real gripe here is that young Conan uses “Crom’s teeth” a little too often. But then I suppose that comes with the territory.

Mahmud Asrar’s art, in the meantime, is perfect. The action is fluid enough and never feels stiff or unnatural. Asrar’s Conan in all his muscular barbarian glory is perfect, his battlefields are barren, and the crypt full of fallen warriors we see is appropriately eldritch and eerie. It’s definitely a highlight.

There is one distinct failing that I can name: it might be putting a little too much work into establishing the setting and ongoing arc than it is at being a standalone story. This isn’t to say that it doesn’t work on its own. However, the majority of the issue ends up feeling like a buildup to a cliffhanger teasing a much more sprawling story.

For that, though, I guess we’ll just have to see next month.