CONAN THE BARBARIAN #2
Writer: Jim Zub
Artists: Roberto De La Torre, Dean White
Publishers: Heroic Signatures & Titan Comics
FC, 32pp, $3.99, August 23, 2023

CONAN and his new ally, BRISSA – a deadly Pictish scout, fight back-to-back against a savage horde…only to discover that each success creates a new obstacle to victory over the “ARMY OF THE LOST.”

COVER A: ALAN QUAH
COVER B: ROBERTO DE LA TORRE
COVER C: GERARDO ZAFFINO
COVER D: E.M GIST RETRO THEME
COVER E: DAN PARENT
COVER F: FOIL ROBERTO DE LA TORRE VIRGIN

The new Conan comic series launched on Free Comic Book Day and there’s a lot of excitement.
What did reviewers think?

• Comic Book Club: “A classic Conan tale and Jim Zub seems the perfect fit for it…The nostalgia factor was a 10.”

• Comic Lounge: “This is the book I knew I would like but didn’t know I would like as much as I did. What a great Conan comic…This is going on the pull.”

• Comicon: 10/10 “…a masterpiece in the making, judging from this issue alone. A promising primer that is both honourably homaging the past greats who have worked on Conan in comics, while forging a new path too.”

• Cuantica Grafica (Spanish): “Zub, De la Torre and Villarrubia emerge victorious. What’s here is not only sensational, but a precious work that, if it continues like this, could be a new milestone in Cimmerian adventure.”

• Gary B, The Casual Comic Book Guy: “I felt like I was reading a 1970’s Marvel Conan the Barbarian comic and man, did this ever capture my interest…I was completely blown away by this preview…an amazing time to be a Conan fan.”

• Graphic Policy: “I think this is fantastic! It’s a solid read, it’s entertaining, the art is amazing. It’s got me pumped for what’s to come. It is exactly what Free Comic Book Day should be all about…This really stood out from the pack. Head’s above everything else.”

• Hero Press: “I was left with a palpable sense of excitement and optimism for the character’s (hopefully very long-running) tenure at Titan Comics.”

• Kabooooom: 10/10 “The Conan comics franchise is in good hands based on this first outing. I’ll be looking forward to the first official issue come July and I doubt I’ll be alone in that.”

• League of Comic Geeks: 10/10 “Every aspect of this book was on point! The Buscema-inspired artwork from De La Torre couldn’t be more perfect. Jim Zub’s writing would make REH proud.”

• Pop Culture Maven: “If you’re a Conan fan, this was definitely worth checking out. I was really surprised by this.”

• Ron Reviews: “The bottom line is that this is very promising and they’re definitely on the right track with this material…I think Conan is in great hands and I’m excited about this series!”

• Stygian Dogs: “As expected, De La Torre’s work is exceptional. It’s said online that his work feels historical, almost biblical. It’s like he is and always has been the default illustrator bringing our histories, myths, and legends to life.”

• Tennessee Fats: “They chose an art style that specifically speaks to Conan…That style of art speaks to you as a reader. It speaks to me as a reader. It speaks to people who are going to be picking this up from scratch…I think they really knocked it out of the park for issue zero.”

• Todd Luck: “This looks like something that just leaped out of Savage Sword. I was so floored when I saw this…this reads like a great Conan comic. The text in here could have been written by Roy Thomas or Robert E. Howard. It perfectly captures the character, especially the wanderlust.”

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1, our big relaunch, graces the cover of Diamond Previews catalogue this month, with Dan Panosian‘s stellar cover art leading the charge into a new Hyborian Age, with my writing, Rob De La Torre line art, Jose Villarrubia on colors, and Richard Starkings on letters!

Make sure you snag our upcoming Free Comic Book Day issue #0 in May and pre-order #1 for July.
It’s going to be epic!

(November 15, 2022) – Global publisher Titan Comics and entertainment studio Heroic Signatures are delighted to reveal that the newest Conan the Barbarian comics will be debuting as part of Free Comic Book Day in 2023!

This FCBD edition of Conan the Barbarian (available at comic book retailers on May 6, 2023) kicks off the brand-new ongoing comic, beginning July 2023. Conan the Barbarian will be written by acclaimed and long-time Conan comic book scribe Jim Zub (Thunderbolts, Uncanny Avengers), and will feature the stunning art of Roberto De La Torre (King-Size Conan, Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D) and colorist José Villarrubia (Promethea, Sweet Tooth, Cuba: My Revolution).

Readers will experience the legendary Conan like never before in this comic shop exclusive primer. 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 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 takes his first fateful steps toward a life of great adventure in the Hyborian Age!

Writer Jim Zub says, “My life was shaped by sword & sorcery stories, especially the work of Robert E. Howard. Every chance I’ve had to contribute to the Hyborian Age has been a gift and this one, relaunching Conan the Barbarian with Heroic Signatures and Titan Comics with modern masters Rob De La Torre and José Villarrubia collaborating on epic artwork, is the biggest and best present I could imagine.

On Free Comic Book Day we’ll give readers and retailers a first look at a young Conan in the legendary Battle at Venarium as he decides to set forth and find the wider world and then, in summer 2023, we’ll fully unleash epic high adventure in an age undreamed of. It’s going to be big, bold and bloody and I can’t wait for all of you to see it.”

Global publisher Titan Comics and entertainment studio Heroic Signatures are excited to reveal more details about their new co-publishing venture for Robert E. Howard’s most famous creation, Conan the Barbarian.

Launching in comic shops and digital devices in July 2023, the brand-new Conan the Barbarian ongoing comic series will be written by acclaimed and long-time Conan comic book scribe Jim Zub (Thunderbolts, Uncanny Avengers), and will feature the stunning art of Roberto De La Torre (King-Size Conan, Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D) and colorist José Villarrubia (Promethea, Sweet Tooth, Cuba: My Revolution). This will kick off a brand-new, exhilarating series of comics of characters from across the Conan and wider Robert E. Howard mythos!

Plus, hot on the heels of this exciting new comic series, Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures are proud to reveal that in Fall 2023, they will be continuing the hugely popular omnibus line – previously published by Marvel Comics – with the next instalment, Savage Sword of Conan Volume 9.

This all-new Conan the Barbarian comic series, set in the world of a classic hero, alongside re-mastered archives, will be sure to delight longtime collectors and new fans of the Conan franchise.

When I co-wrote the Conan-Red Sonja mini-series back in 2015, I put my all into it because I thought that would be my one and only chance to write the original sword & sorcery legend.

When I co-wrote Conan in Avengers: No Road Home, I wrote it like it was my last chance.

When I wrote Conan: The Gambler in Savage Sword of Conan, I wrote it like it was my last chance.

When I wrote Conan: Serpent War, I wrote it like it was my last chance.

When I took over Conan the Barbarian at Marvel, again, I gave it my all and wrote it like it was my last chance.

(You’re noticing a pattern here.)

Now, as announced at the SDCC Conan panel, I’m the flagship writer on Titan’s new CONAN THE BARBARIAN series with a Free Comic Book Day story and first issue arriving May 2023.

I’m still giving it everything I’ve got. Get ready for something special.

• AIPT: 8.5/10 “Conan the Barbarian #25 is an entertaining collection with clever ideas and entertaining action.”

• Comic Book.com: 8/10 “Not only does this issue prove Conan’s staying power in the Marvel Universe, but it honestly makes the best argument yet for him to get some sort of anthology book.”

• Comic Book Resources: “Zub clearly has fun here and understands how to use high concepts without losing sight of the fantasy setting. For their part, Smith is an efficient storyteller and Poggi’s sharp, defined inks enhance the weight of the action. Silva’s colors further distinguish the scenes, with an early double-page splash standing out as a particular highlight.”

• Comic Crusaders: 10/10 “For those who have been on the ride since the first issue and for people like myself who have been in and out of this series periodically, Conan The Barbarian #300 is a treat unlike any other on stands.”

• Comic Watch: 9.6/10 “…a decent anniversary issue that pays a lot of homage to stories past.”

• Comical Opinions: 9.5/10 “…one of the strongest and most entertaining Anniversary Anthologies in recent memory. There’s not a weak short story in the bunch, and each entry has a unique perspective to offer on the creation of Robert E. Howard. Conan fans will be very happy with this issue.”

• Infinity Flux: “Whether you’ve been reading Conan or not, this is just a good one to grab.”

• Kabooooom: 8/10 “…a worthy anniversary issue, offering an introduction to the Cimmerian hero for those who might need one and more epically illustrated tales of high adventure for those who know him already. If sword-and-sorcery be to your liking, make haste for the nearest comic shop and claim your copy today!”

Conan the Barbarian #300 arrives today at your favorite comic shop. Sure, the current numbering says ‘#25’, but in my heart every series follows original numbering, because that ongoing legacy is one of the many reasons why working on these series is such a thrill.

Having 12 out of the 13 issues of this run on a dream title be released during a pandemic has been bittersweet. I wanted to celebrate with fans and friends out on the road, to travel and chat about what this character means to me and how much work I put into making sure each story felt pulpy and old school even as I tried to bring unexpected little turns to classic concepts. Promoting the issues in person wasn’t possible, but the heartfelt messages from fans online have been much appreciated.

Our whole creative team did an incredible job, starting with Rogê Antônio, then Robert Gill and Luca Pizzari, and finally syncing it all up with Cory Smith and Roberto Poggi for the latter half. Erik Gist and Geoff Shaw turned in bombastic covers worthy of the Hyborian Age, Israel Silva provided moody colors, Travis Lanham lettered it all sharply, and our editors Mark Basso, Martin Biro, Shannon Ballesteros, Martin Biro, and Lauren Amauro kept the whole thing running. Each of them worked incredibly hard and I’m so grateful to see these journeys brought to life thanks to their efforts.

Until Our Stories End, my story in Conan #300, is a short and pointed tale about the uncertainty of the future. It seems relevant without anchoring it to this absolute point in time. Cory, Rob, Israel, and Travis pulled out all the stops and made it one for the ages.

Getting to write new stories for one of the biggest and most well-known characters in sword & sorcery has been a dream. These Days of High Adventure have been a salve for me in troubled times. I hope they are for you as well.

I also hope it’s not the last time I get to be a bard for our barbarian but, whatever happens next, I’m so damn happy it happened at all.

Thank you for reading.
Jim

• Comic Book.com: “All in all, this proves to be a good Conan story—and with the 300th issue right around the corner, we’re hopefully right on the cusp of a great one.”

• Comic Crusaders: 8/10 “I am appreciative of the welcoming nature that Zub’s Conan has, as to where I can drop off on an issue and come back years later and find a story that will eventually entertain and maybe even a storyline that I can latch on to, as I will certainly be on the lookout for the next landmark issue.”

• Comic Watch: 10/10 “Jim Zub is writing tales in the spirit of Robert E. Howard. I really like the narrator aspect of Conan the Barbarian #24. While Cory Smith’s artwork shows us the perils of sailing the ocean, the narrator word balloons elevate the story giving it an epic-ness.”