CONAN THE BARBARIAN #36 arrived in stores last week, wrapping up our Cursed Shores Beyond story arc of supernatural pirate adventure. What did the critics think?

• 9 Panel Grid: “My god, it’s so good. Fernando Dagnino is one of the absolute best artists to take on the Conan property. I love the way that he’s rendering the action…If you’re not reading everything in the Conan world, I think you’re missing out on a lot of great comics.”

• Comic Culture: “It’s been one of the most consistent books on the shelf for over three years now. It’s been incredible. There’s not a single dud issue…It’s one of my favorite books, month over month. You’ve got to be reading this one.”

• Comic Patrol: “This is maybe my favorite issue yet…It’s so well written, it’s so much fun and the book swings for the fences.”

• Comical Opinions: 9.5/10 “Banger among bangers. Jim Zub calls upon all his mortal powers to deliver a hammer blow of a finale to the arc…The art has to do a lot of heavy lifting to portray an eldritch being from beyond, making it tangible and intimidating while partly ethereal. Dagnino meets the task handily, with disturbing creature designs and a final battle that brims with mystical energy, clashing steel, and pulse-pounding visuals.”

• Doc Lail Talks Comics: “The level of love and support and understanding that Jim Zub has of the character of Conan is second only to Robert E. Howard, and the love and respect he shows the property can’t be denied.”

• Eternal Crusader: “By the time I reached the final page, I was left with a big, satisfied grin on my face. And honestly, that’s a pretty rare occurrence for me when reading comics. A major triumph in an already excellent Conan the Barbarian run!”

• Fanlight Zone: 10/10 “This is top-tier comic book work. This is a legendary run in the making that you’re reading in your hands, what it must have felt like reading Frank Miller’s Daredevil or something like that, where you know you’re reading something that will stand the test of time. An amazing book and it has been for 36 issues now.”

• Gaming Trend: 8/10 “Conan is always fun to watch as he cuts his way through hordes of foes, and expected as it may be by now, the eldritch horror aspect of the story is just as interesting here as it has been in Zub’s other stories…All of these elements combine to create a fantastic tale that any fantasy lover can easily enjoy, regardless of whether they want to dive into the larger mythos.”

• Gary B the Casual Comic Guy: “The panel work in this particular issue is incredible and I’m going to be singing Dagino’s praises because everything he’s been doing through this arc has been fantastic…An A+ issue.”

• Goodreads: 10/10 “What a great end to this arc. I loved how Zub tied this back to Conan slaying Thulsa Doom, then brought those consequences into a story full of eldritch horror…Dagnino makes the sword fights and monstrous horror look fantastic, and I had a blast watching Conan fight his way through it all.”

• League of Comic Geeks: 10/10 “The battle is epic and worthy of legend. This is the kind of issue you give to a friend and say ‘Don’t worry about the story so far. Just read this.'”

• Pop Culture Philosophers: “What Jim Zub does perfectly in this issue is take a story I thought was just a nice fun throwaway Conan tale and have it be an integral part of the entire tapestry built up across different stories, different eras, different characters into this giant Conan epic he’s been building ever since his first issue.”

• Stygian Dogs: “As the arc closer, it’s a tight little entry embedded in an exhilarating intro into Zub’s wider story and it absolutely kicked ass. And man, Fernando Dagnino and Diego Rodriguez were such a great pairing here. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – It’s been an absolute pleasure watching Dagnino develop over time.”

• Thinking Critical: “Typically when you do recaps to an event inside an issue, it can be handled haphazardly, but here it’s incredibly well done…Strongest recommendations, my Pick of the Week and will be in the running for Series of the Year.”

Our latest Conan event mini-series, Tides of the Tyrant-King, just hit the halfway mark with our second issue released last week. What did the critics think? Read on and find out-

• 9 Panel Grid: “I’m really enjoying this. We’re halfway through and I really can’t wait to see where they’re going to take this event and see where it all culminates.”

• Comic Book Clique: “Jesús Merino has a more ‘traditional comic book’ art style—like you would associate with a superhero book. It seems like an odd fit for a modern Conan book, but it works well here…The contrasts between Conan and Steve Costigan are well-presented and drive the story forward.”

• Comic Culture: “As always, Jim has an amazing voice for the character. That narration that’s tried, true, and classic for Conan the Barbarian. The art style is always on point.”

• Comic Patrol: “Jim Zub does a great job writing but the artists really do so much to make these exciting and visually stunning…It’s all handled so expertly, I’m glad a book like this exists where I can enjoy the reading and enjoy the art.”

• Comical Opinions: 8.5/10 “Jim Zub’s eon-spanning tale takes Costigan and Thulsa Doom in interesting directions, and the art team’s delivery is top-notch.”

• Cupcakes Comic Reviews: “If you’re a sword and sorcery guy, this book is totally for you…The artwork is sublime.”

• Fanlight Zone: 9/10 “This run has just been legendary. Jim Zub is absolutely writing his name in stone as one of the best Conan writers ever…The book looks fantastic, the book reads fantastic, and it needs to be on everybody’s pull list.”

• Goodreads: 8/10 “The jumping from one era to another could be a bit jarring but Zub does a good job of mirroring the situations to show a connection beyond just a common evil.”

• League of Comic Geeks: 8/10 “Merino’s art pops. That scene of Stephen looking gaunt really caught my attention only to have him return to full health shortly after that. Great job showing the madness of what’s happening to him.”

• Pop Culture Philosophers: “Howling Jesús Merino is the artist and I really love his art…I’m curious how it’s all going to culminate and finally wrap up.”

• Stygian Dogs: “There were obviously some great moments and I really do appreciate the imagination that Zub is throwing at his adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s Skull-Face…I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.”

The third part of our Cursed Shores Beyond story arc brought big action. Conan battles a twisted cult on a desolate island while Valeria and the Red Brotherhood discover the depths of darkness. What did critics think of it?

• 9 Panel Grid: “Jim Zub continues to write these really great story arcs that are really entertaining, really exciting. And the greatest part is that you can dive in at each and every arc and get a satisfying experience…Conan the Barbarian continues to be such a great read.”

• Comic Culture: “Dagnino on the art is doing a great job of capturing these crazy landscapes. We have outdoor scenes, we have cave scenes…Brilliant coloring as well from Rodriguez. It’s just a very atmospheric book and very much on brand for Conan.”

• Comical Opinions: 9/10 “Another winning issue in a winning arc. Jim Zub’s tale of Conan and his allies confronting a cosmic horror ranks up there with the best of Robert E. Howard’s stories, and the art is a gorgeous fit for the material.”

• Conan iAm: 9.6/10 “I think this is brilliant. This shows that rare emotional resonance that hasn’t been done since Howard, or at least since Roy Thomas adapted Red Nails. Here it is. This may be the issue of the year.”

• Cool Thunder: 10/10 “Jim Zub has written pure poetry, from the narration to the dialogue, delivering another thrilling adventure of the Cimmerian that feels right at home in the tradition of Robert E. Howard. Combined with the incredible artwork of Fernando Dagnino and colors by Diego Rodriguez, this is, in our opinion, the most sensational issue of the run so far!”

• Cupcakes Comic Reviews: “Great detailed artwork. If you love sword and sorcery, this is the book for you. Don’t skip Conan the Barbarian by Crom and Mitra, go read it and you will not be disappointed.”

• Dragon’s Cache: 9.8/10 “Conan is only a man. Yet his fierce determination to survive and his preternatural fighting abilities have seen him surmount overwhelming odds.”

• Fanlight Zone: 10/10 “Jim Zub is an absolute master on these books, just laying down a legacy at this point on the character. The art by Fernando Dagnino is just killing it. Action, gore, monsters. This is everything you ever wanted in a comic book.”

• Gary B, the Casual Comics Guy: “I’ve really enjoyed Dagnino’s art. The island art has been fantastic. It looks great. I’ve really loved all the places and locations he’s drawn in here, and the way he’s filled out the backgrounds has been exceptional…This is an A+ issue and a fun, exceptional read. Great storytelling, great art, and just what you want out of a Conan story.”

• Goodreads: 10/10 “I loved the story, loved the art, and loved how hard this leans into the horror side of sword and sorcery. One of those issues where everything comes together and I’m just having an amazing time reading it. Peak Conan.”

• League of Comic Geeks: 10/10 “How does Jim Zub keep doing it? Everything feels constantly fresh and badass and it feels like you get a full meal every issue. The art was phenomenal as well; so many good pages and panels.”

• Lord Samper’s Library: “It says a lot more about the Hyborian Age when others can take centre stage and hold their own. Zub and Dagnino do a great job of that here…Everything is set up nicely for #36, I’m looking forward to it already.”

• Old Man Hyborian: “Best issue of the story arc so far. Lots of action, lots of good artwork. Looking forward to what’s to come…Another excellent issue.”

• Pop Culture Philosophers: “Zub’s got his big event going on right now, but that’s not going to sway him from just telling solid Conan stories here in the pages of Conan the Barbarian…I really like this book.”

• Sci-Fi Pulse: 9.7/10 “This is perhaps the strongest issue of this particular story arc to date…Rodriguez really knocks it out of the park. The panels depicting the swordfight between Valeria and Morley are lush. The issue closes with a brilliant cliffhanger”

• Stygian Dogs: “Fernando Dagnino did a hell of a job depicting Conan’s calculated cruelty, returning once again to Valeria, and then the psychic release and promise depicted on that last page. It’s a wonderfully constructed issue…a definite high mark in this arc that leaves this reader eager for what’s to come.”

• Thinking Critical: “Conan the Barbarian continues to be one of the absolute premier books in the entire industry…This was incredibly well written and well illustrated. It has a little bit of something for everyone here – Action, suspense, horror, romance.”

• Unc Blerd: ” I love so much what Jim Zub is doing with this run, giving us a barbarian that is not just barbaric, but smart and cunning.”

Our third Conan event mini-series kicked off last week in epic fashion! What did the critics think of it?

• 9 Panel Grid: “As far as a kickoff issue, I feel like this could be the most effective one yet…The artwork is fantastic here. The writing was pitch perfect for the character.”

• The Beat: “This is a must read for sword and sorcery, pulp comic fans. Zub’s Conan comics are consistently some of the best comics on sale today and this is no different.”

• Comic Buzz: 8/10 “This story starts off at a different pace and point of view, which I think will hook the Conan readers to add this title to their collection.”

• Comic Patrol: “I love the line work so much. This is very much my kind of book…This is what I want from comic books. I encourage you to check it out.”

• Comical Opinions: 8.5/10 “Jim Zub has proven he’s the master of Robert E. Howard crossovers, and this issue confirms it…Jesús Merino has mighty big shoes to fill, and fill them he does. Merino delivers a fantastic set of visuals with familiar characters that look and act authentically, gritty action, creepy creature designs, and an excellent sense of flow.”

• Cool Thunder: 9/10 “Zub has been carefully building toward something, and this first issue makes it clear that the stakes are only getting bigger. Jesús Merino delivers a beautiful issue, with artwork that captures the essence of the story.”

• Cupcakes Comic Reviews: “It’s a good jumping on point. Even if you’ve never read any other Conan, you can just read this and get a full story.”

• Doc Lail: “I’m really digging this. The art by Jesús Merino is amazing. The colors, the letters, and the writing of Jim Zub and his purple prose at its finest. It’s great stuff. Highest recommendations.”

• Eternal Crusader: “Zub now takes these different yet somewhat connected pieces of Howard’s mythology and folds them into the larger narrative he has been building throughout his Conan run. And this is where the issue becomes particularly rewarding for longtime readers.”

• Fanlight Zone: “This book keeps being a 10/10 every goddamn month…By Crom, get to the comic shop immediately because this is just awesome.”

• Gaming Trend: 8/10 “It’s a riveting start to what promises to be yet another thrilling tale in Zub and Titan Comics’s growing Howardverse.”

• Kabooooom: 10/10 “Another hit for Titan Comics. The works of Robert E. Howard have never been blended or recreated so well. This is a must read book for all fans of sword and sorcery, weird horror and ripping yarns!”

• League of Comic Geeks: 8/10 “This is a setup issue, but it’s good setup…Jesús Merino’s art carries a lot of this issue. It’s detailed and moody and feels right for Conan.”

• Pop Culture Philosophers: “Conan is in the best hands it’s ever been…This book is awesome.”

• Stygian Dogs: “With artist Jesus Merino and the vibrant color work of Jao Canola bringing it all to life, Tides of the Tyrant King is a visually strong book. Merino’s dynamic artwork pairs beautifully with Canola’s rich colors, giving the issue an almost fever dream quality that feels particularly apt, especially given the increasingly strange time-bending nature of Zub’s narrative.”

• Thinking Critical: “This is incredibly well written, well illustrated, well paced, and a fantastic opening chapter to a big event. This is my pick of the week and my strongest recommendation.”

SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #16 kicks off the TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING event with 3 stories that tie into the big story. Working with Nicola Scott, Chris Campana, and Sean Izaakse was amazing. Let’s see what the critics thought-

• Comic Book Clique: 9/10 “Jim Zub brings the same strong Howardian voice to all three of these stories that he does the ongoing Conan series each month…If the intent of this issue was to get readers hyped for the event, I can say that it definitely worked on me”

• Comic Crusaders: 9/10 “Savage Sword should feel like opening a forbidden drawer full of maps, monsters, doomed men, dangerous women, and stories somebody definitely told you not to read before bed. Issue #16 gets that vibe. It is muscular without becoming brainless, reverent toward Howard without becoming trapped by him, and visually varied without losing the magazine’s identity.”

• Comic Culture: “This is a great foundational book for things to come over in Conan proper…Savage Sword of Conan is one of the best books out right now.”

• Cupcake Comic Reviews: “One of my favorite titles out there…Jim Zub doing what Jim Zub does best, which is staying savage on this book. He’s killing every single issue.”

• The Dragon’s Cache: 9.8/10 “Nicola Scott steeps her epic scenes and heartfelt recollections with shades of gray, lending depth and reality to her art in The Savage Sword of Conan #16.”

• Eternal Crusader: “A strong companion piece to Tides of the Tyrant King…Zub’s Conan can always be more than blood, steel, and pulp spectacle when he decides to dig a little deeper and explore the humanity behind it all.”

• Fanlight Zone: 10/10 “Love it, absolutely love it. Jim Zub doing the best work of his career on this character…It is the combination of great art, great story, great character – It all comes together in one kick-ass package. What more could you want?”

• Gaming Trend: 8/10 “This jumbo-sized issue serves as a perfect prequel to Tides of the Tyrant King, with the trio of stories beautifully showcasing the ongoing machinations of Thulsa Doom while also establishing compelling new characters that promise to play big roles in the miniseries.”

• Gary B The Casual Comic Guy: “This is a A+ issue. There is a lot of greatness here. All the stories are a lot of fun and just as good the second time around reading them. They just really suck you in. And what Jim Zub does is fantastic. “

• Goodreads: 9/10 “This is clearly a setup issue, but it did exactly what it needed to do: delivered some great sword-and-sorcery fun and made me even more excited for what comes next.”

• Kabooooom: 10/10 “Zub’s stories are as engaging as ever and he is well-matched by his artistic collaborators. More than any writer to dabble in the Hyborian Age, Zub goes beyond emulating Howard’s style and truly expands his creations.”

• League of Comic Geeks: 10/10 “I got more than expected. I am a sucker for black and white, especially on newsprint. The two tie in stories were fantastic and I am excited for the new series to begin…Overall, I am adding yet another Conan to my pull list from here on.”

• Lord Samper’s Library: “Jim Zub’s storytelling is as near as dammit masterful; re-establishing the legend of Conan, showing the bitterness that grows in those shadows and introducing a villain for the cross-over event, all at once…Savage Sword of Conan continues to get on with doing exactly what the original series did so well, telling gripping sword & sorcery tales and making sure that Conan remains as iconic as he always has been.”

• Major Spoilers: “I really like the black and white art. It is very conducive to this kind of pulp story and an anthology series…Jim Zub’s writing is really great. He understands the characters, the settings. He knows what he wants to do.”

• Old Man Hyborian: “All three stories were penned by Jim Zub and pretty decent, all three of them. You can see how he’s going to set up this new mini-series. The main story arc was drawn by Nicola Scott. Pretty decent art and I really liked that.”

• Pop Culture Philosophers: 8/10 “I love how Jim Zub is not just taking Conan and polishing him off and bringing him fresh and exciting for a new generation of fans and appeasing the older generation of fans, but also putting the spotlight on some of the lesser known characters from the Howardverse.”

• Stygian Dogs: “The more I think about the story, the more I love it. It’s a success from both the writer and the artist…What else can be said? It’s just awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Add in three tremendous pin-ups and an exciting art contest and the issue is an absolute winner. A must read prior to next week’s release of the excellent Conan Tides of the Tyrant King #1.”

Part 2 of our Cursed Shores Beyond story arc arrived in stores last week. What did reviewers think?

• Comic Culture: “I had such a good time with this. We say that for every single issue of Jim Zub’s Conan run…Fernando Dagnino is the artist on this one and it’s beautiful stuff. He does fantastic work on here.”

• Comic Patrol: “What’s the one book I would keep if I had to drop everything? It’s Conan…I couldn’t sing its praises high enough.”

• Comical Opinions: 10/10 “Fernando Dagnino is firing on all cylinders with beautifully rendered junglescapes, terrifying monsters, cinematic swordfights, and a fantastic sense of drama…Jim Zub’s tale of woe is as good as it gets, and the art team’s delivery is dead center perfect.”

• Cupcakes Comic Reviews: “Fernando Daginono’s artwork is sublime. Like all the artists on this book, they’ve all been awesome…And again, Jim can do no wrong.”

• Fanlight Zone: 10/10 “It’s almost a broken record at this point to tell you guys how amazing this book is every single month. Just some of the best comic work on the shelves…It’s right up there with some of the best work on this character. I can’t recommend it enough.”

• Gaming Trend: 9/10 “The distinct environment remains a breath of fresh air for long-time readers of the series, and the supporting cast continue to be just as captivating as the titular Cimmerian. With a healthy dose of fast-paced action and an unexpected twist at the end, Conan the Barbarian #34 is a great time from cover to cover.”

• Gary B the Casual Comic Guy: “The coloring in these last two issues by Diego Rodriguez has been absolutely stunning. The coloring just really brought me into this story. Everything is clear, everything’s concise, but there are layers to the coloring that really draw it out.”

• League of Comic Geeks: 10/10 “This arc is pure sword-and-sorcery adventure, and that final reveal immediately made me desperate for the next issue. An absolute blast from beginning to end!”

• Old Man Hyborian: “Overall, a pretty solid issue. Buy it, read it, and enjoy it.”

• Pop Culture Philosophers: “Dagnino is such a great artist. Really great stuff. There’s dinosaurs on this island eating people, the figure work is amazing…Jim Zub is the best Conan writer of my lifetime.”

• Sci-Fi Pulse: 9.6/10 “Fernando Dagnino does a great job with the artwork in this story. A particular highlight is the attack by the carnivorous reptiles seeking to make a meal of our heroes…A solid second issue that builds nicely on the story established in last month’s opener.”

• Stygian Dogs: “It’s a fun second part of this four issue arc. It establishes the mystery of the island and the various threats there on, and it gives clear momentum for the next stage of the adventure.”

• Thinking Critical: “Pick of the Week…This was a blast to read from beginning to end. Great dialogue, pacing, terrific art and lettering as well.”