Category Archives: Conan - Page 3

Conan the Barbarian #25 Reviews

Our extra-special 25th issue, a stand-alone King Conan story called “The Nomad” painted by Alex Horley, has finally been released. Let’s see what reviewers thought of this milestone:

9 Panel Grid: “What makes this issue really stand out in a big way is the painted artwork by Alex Horley. It is absolutely fantastic. Arguably the best artwork you’re going to see in any comic that you get from this week’s stack…Check out this issue. It was stunning.”

Amazon: 10/10 “Alex Horley knocked it clean out of the park, and for the first time I believe the art outshined the great writing, and that’s saying something! The history, setting and characters are all on point, the kingdom of Aquilonia is displayed in the most beautiful and intriguing display I’ve ever seen.”

Bizarre Brain Comics: “Very nicely done with some wonderful, wonderful artwork…They did a magnificent job.”

Brother Lore: “If there is a single issue that deserves a deluxe edition being published in an oversized hard cover, it is this one…You have to buy this comic book for yourselves. You will 100% enjoy it. Whether you are a Conan the Barbarian fan or just a comic book fan, a fantasy fan, a sword and sorcery fan, just go get it!”

Casually Comics: “This is very much a labor of love and it shows – The art is absolutely gorgeous. The kind that warrants just taking a moment. It’s the kind of thing you want to sit with…It’s a good issue for those who have been reading the run or one that people could jump into.”

Comic Book Club: “It’s just a great milestone comic to jump into even if you haven’t been reading the comic before because this does stand alone…The art is really spectacular.”

Comic Book Corner 2.0: “This book is just a visual masterpiece, absolutely beautiful. It is gorgeous in every stretch of the imagination.”

Comic Book Resources: “a tremendously entertaining visual treat…this comic is a real gift for any comic book fan.”

Comic Book University: “I’m loving what I’m reading in here…I think it’s a fantastic thing that we get to have comics like this coming out on a very consistent basis.”

Comic Culture: “This was absolutely incredible…an interesting, action-packed story but also from a visual point of view. So many great things happening inside here. Just knocking it out of the park yet again.”

Comic Patrol: “It’s just phenomenal!…What a blooming treat. I can’t get over how great this book is.”

Comical Opinions: 10/10 “Alex Horley’s fully painted interiors are the star attraction. Total sensory overload in the best possible way. Every page bursts with color and energy, flipping between misty memory and present-day menace.”

Conan Chronology: “a celebration of what keeps bringing us back to this Depression-era barbarian for a hundred years, and even of storytelling itself…If this were the last Conan issue from Jim Zub and Titan, it would be a fitting way to go out. But I’m so glad it’s not. Pick it up now!”

Cool Thunder: 10/10 “an absolute masterclass in visual storytelling. Jim Zub delivers a phenomenal self-contained King Conan tale and it’s a total knockout! Every panel, oil-painted by Alex Horley, transforms the page into a living, breathing epic.”

Eternal Crusader: “Each panel, every page is a unique love letter to Robert E. Howard, Conan, and the Hyborian Age…a triumphant comic book and a must-have for all Conan and comic-book fans.”

Father and Son Comics: “It is absolutely gorgeous…I thought it was a really great twist and an iconic ending to the story.”

Gaming Trend: 9.5/10 “this is a beautiful tribute to such a storied character. It feels as if Zub and Horley really put their all into this massive issue, and the result is nothing short of a testament worthy of Robert E. Howard’s legendary Barbarian.”

Gary B the Casual Comic Guy: “Storytelling is an A++ and art A++. I am so thankful that this issue was not a letdown because I was looking forward to this for a while and it delivered. I thought it was absolutely one of the best issues in the series so far and I think it really adds quite a bit to the Conan lore.”

Goodreads: 10/10 “Zub is doing Howard absolute justice with his writing, giving us ‘countless moons in ages untold’. May Conan’s story never be forgotten.”

Grimdark Magazine: “Perhaps the best single issue of the Titan Comics incarnation to date. Not only is it visually gorgeous, but the story is also an eloquent summation of the appeal of both the character of Conan and Sword & Sorcery fiction in general.”

Hyborian Reviews: “Zub’s writing is on a high level here, but the art is just a feast for the eyes!…Conan the Barbarian #25 really hit the right spots at the right time!”

Kabooooom: 10/10 “Horley is recognized as one of the best in the business for a reason and seeing him depict such scenes as Conan’s battles with Thak the man-ape or the frost giants would be well worth the price of admission by itself.”

Kara Dennison: “This story is a worthy anniversary installment, paying tribute to Conan’s history with every new panel. If you’re new to the saga, it’s an eye-popping way to start; if you’re a long-time fan, you’ll be delighted at just how deep the references go.”

League of Comic Geeks: 10/10 “Actually speechless. I don’t know how they do it but this series just keeps getting better and better. The whole issue, all the way to every last detail, was perfect.”

Lord Samper’s Library: “A fascinating tale about the nature of immortality, accompanied by some stunning artwork from Alex Horley, befitting a milestone issue.”

Mighty Thorngren: “This is the most fun I’ve had in just ages. My face hurts from smiling so much. This book was everything I wanted it to be…I drank in every single page with the beautiful artwork, but the writing was phenomenal too.”

Nerd Initiative: 10/10 “Amazing stuff! Titan and Heroic Signatures just absolutely slaying the best with this awesome book, one of the best books on the shelf every single goddamn month…The interior art in this is breathtaking.”

Old Man Hyborian: “A good, clever story by Jim Zub and stellar art by Alex Horely. An excellent start for year three at Titan Comics. This will be one for the ages.”

Old Nerd Reviews NY: “Zub does a great balancing act of building on the Robert E. Howard stories but making them relevant to today and presenting them in a fun way that we haven’t seen before.”

Overstreet Access: “Titan can now stand aside Marvel and Dark Horse as publishers of sustained, solid runs on Robert E. Howard’s best-known creation…It’s particularly cool to see Horley doing interiors on a full comic issue, and he doesn’t disappoint on a single page.”

Pop Culture Philosophers: “Alex Horley, who does this beautiful wraparound painted cover, does fully painted interiors on this book and it is absolutely freaking gorgeous…This was a great love letter to Conan and everything that came before Jim Zub took over this book and everything that may potentially happen after.”

Sanctuary of Comics: “A celebration of strength, legacy, and artistry. A piece that proves the Hyborian Age lives on, not only in nostalgia, but in the passion of its new creators. Alex Horley delivers a monumental visual experience while Jim Zub writes with a palpable reverence for the Cimmerian spirit.”

Scifi Pulse: 9.5/10 “The artwork in this issue is magnificent…Every page is a visual feast, full of detail, drama, and the grandeur that fans expect from Conan.”

Stars My Destination (Spanish): 9/10 “A story that celebrates the character’s entire history and the mythic quality Conan holds for generations of readers…The quality is off the charts; it’s evident on every page of this historic comic.”

Stygian Dogs: “A standalone King Conan epic that’s got everything from heart pounding action to deep introspection…Zub’s tale explores the essence of what forms Conan’s immortality through the gift of tale and legend. Alex Horley’s art is flat out incredible. Every page is oil on canvas excellence that bursts with texture and intensity that elevates the dreamlike quality of the story’s more ethereal moments.”

Sword and Sorcery Book Club: “It’s freaking phenomenal. I love this…Jim and Alex Horley knocked it out of the park.”

Thinking Critical: “I love this one, it was great and a very gorgeous comic…It was a really good read. If you love Conan the Barbarian, you are definitely going to love this comic.”

Two Guys and a Stack of Comics: “Without a doubt this took the cake for Best Comic of the Week, maybe a challenger for Best Single Issue of the Year…This is truly what an anniversary issue should be.”

Void City Reviews: “I’m going to recommend this as a place to start if somehow you don’t start with issue one or the first trade…this is well done and I really enjoy King Conan.”

Whole Lotta Comics: 9.9/10 “This book is absolutely insane. This book is beautiful…If you are a big Conan fan, you’ve read all the Robert E. Howard stuff, you read the Marvel comics, I can only imagine how much you love this book and love how it honored and paid respect to previous Conan stories.”

Zubby Newsletter #130: A Week To Conquer

Conan the Barbarian #25 oil painted art by Alex Horley.

It’s a big week here in Zubville – CONAN THE BARBARIAN #25, our special fully painted anniversary issue, arrives in stores tomorrow and New York Comic Con kicks off starting Thursday! Getting ahead on writing deadlines and prepping for upcoming trips has been a lot to juggle, but I really am looking forward to seeing friends and fans in the Big Apple. Last time I was there (two years ago, time is flying) we were in the afterglow of the Conan launch and now we’re roaring forward into year three of the series.

I’ll be at NYCC on Thursday through Saturday, three days instead of four, because it’s also Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend and I want to be home for it. In past years I’ve missed Thanksgiving by staying at the convention through Sunday and always regretted it. Don’t get me wrong, the show is good, but there’s nothing on the last day that’s worth missing that time with family.

Otherwise, check HERE for details on my schedule at the show – Where I’m at, signings, and other events and if you get a chance to check out issue 25 this week please let me know what you think of it!


Dungeon Variant


Speaking of issue #25, I popped by Dungeon Comics in Oakville to sign some of their CONAN THE BARBARIAN #25 shop variants illustrated by Mike Rooth ahead of their release. Mike did up a great image and used the original Marvel logo to enhance the classic feel of this extra-special issue.

If you want to order your own copy, check HERE.


Casually Comics

I’m back on Casually Comics, chatting with Sasha all about our second year of Conan the Barbarian – our extra special 25th issue, the Scourge of the Serpent mini-series event, sales, fans, and more!


The Comics Sanctuary

Here’s a livestream interview I did with Alfredo Rueda at El Santuario de los Comics. The site is Spanish but our interview is in English:


Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – released Sept 24.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – released Sept 24.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – released Oct 7.
  • Conan the Barbarian #25 – releases Oct 8.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases Oct 21.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2 – releases Oct 29.
  • D&D Young Adventurer’s: The Warriors & Wizards Compendium – releases Nov 4.
  • Stranger Things-Dungeons & Dragons: Tales from the Table – releases Nov 4.
  • Conan the Barbarian #26 – releases Nov 12.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #3 – releases Nov 26.
  • Conan the Barbarian #27 – releases Dec 10.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #4 – releases Dec 31.

  • Upcoming Appearances

    Oct 9-11, 2025 New York Comic Con New York, NY, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK


    Other Links

    • This is your last chance to get the CONAN: BATTLE OF THE BLACK STONE action figure from Heroic Signatures – the pre-order period ends this Friday, October 10th! I’ll bring one of the prototypes to NYCC so people can check it out first-hand.

    Kieron Gillen has just started a series of blogposts reminiscing about his 101 Favorite Tabletop RPGs. This is going to be good, and reminds me of when he and I chatted up a storm about comics and games on my YouTube channel (and he talks fast so feel free to use the captions).

    Jackson’s Art Store has an article that covers the history of the pencil. Mundane sounding, I know, but the sequence of events are pretty interesting.

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #129: Proper Reading Order

    Team Conan Chattanooga – with Tyler Smith and Richard Starkings.

    I had a lot of fun in Tennesee, meeting new readers and old collectors, and hanging out with industry friends and current collaborators. Over the summer I attended so many four day shows that doing an event that was only Saturday and Sunday felt luxurious and gone in a flash. Good times!

    On Sunday, I had breakfast with Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith at Comicraft, who letter all the Conan comics. Richard is the guy who pioneered digital lettering techniques back in the 90’s and I’m thrilled to have him on our series, bringing such depth of knowledge and care to each issue. With so many projects on the go, Tyler is at the forefront working with me on the initial lettering pass and edits, with Richared involved in complex scenes, problem solving, and special font design.

    Comic lettering isn’t understood by many comic fans. When lettering works properly it effortlessly guides the reader through each panel and page and we are usually too caught up in reading to appreciate the care that goes into where that lettering is placed, fonts and color choices, or how balloons or caption boxes stack to create clarity, but when lettering is done poorly it is the only thing we notice because the reading process gets derailed.

    Conan the Barbarian is unusual in that there are practically no sound effects at all. Writer-Editor Roy Thomas realized right from the first issue in 1970 that endless panels of slashing and screaming onomatopoeia would not effectively translate the power or poetry of Robert E. Howard’s prose to the comic page, so more atmospheric narration was used instead. That lyrical approach, which I continue to use to this day, gives scenes a tension and gravity all their own and makes Conan stand out amongst its peers. It’s a challenge to come up with new and interesting ways to describe sensory information beyond what we see in the artwork, but it’s also worth the extra effort.

    Here’s a lettering example from our most recent issue on the flagship series, Conan the Barbarian #24:

    Artwork by Fernando Dagnino and Diego Rodriguez.

    8 text callouts on an action-oriented page is a good balance of reading and visuals. If there’s a lot of action on the page I will throttle text back even more and let the art do the ‘talking’. That said, dialogue scenes can certainly get more dense in terms of lettering. Here’s a page from Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 with 18!

    Artwork by Ivan Gil and João Canola.

    Having each number correspond to the lettering script makes it easy for everyone to reference the document and compare. It also makes it much easier to ask for changes (“Can we add a new line between #4 and 5?” or “Let’s cut balloon 8 entirely because it’s no longer needed”).


    Chatting With Sal

    I couldn’t believe it had been more than two years since I chatted on camera with Sal Crivelli from Comic Pop, so when the opportunity came up I jumped at the chance.

    It really felt like no time has passed at all and the conversation that rolled out was as fun and energetic as always. Anecdotes and info galore. Make sure you check it out.


    Comic Tropes After Dark

    Another person I absolutely love talking with is Chris Piers at Comic Tropes. His deep love of comics and optimistic energy is always inspiring. In 30 minutes we cover quite a bit about the last two years of Conan at Titan and our current event mini-series.


    Comic Book Club

    Rounding out this hat trick of interviews, I checked in with Alex and Justin at the Comic Book Club and we talked about building long term stories and collaborating with amazing artists.


    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – released September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – released September 10th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – released September 24th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – released September 24th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – releases October 7th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #25 – releases October 8th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases October 21st.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2 – releases October 29th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #26 – releases November 12th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #3 – releases November 26th.

  • Upcoming Appearances

    Oct 9-11, 2025 New York Comic Con New York, NY, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK


    Other Links

    • Last week I made this General Tso’s Chicken recipe from Brian Lagerstrom and it really was better than takeout.

    Dom of X has the first look at the Deluxe oversized hardcover edition of Conan vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone – Check that beauty out!

    • Over the years there have been rumors and tall tales spun about how He-Man and Conan are connected, but Shawn Curley is on the case, unravelling the truth from the lies with info right from the source.

    • I didn’t know artist Skottie Young had his own YouTube channel, but now that I do know I’m subscribed and digging into all the older videos.

    Jim

    Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 Reviews


    Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1, our new sword & sorcery event mini-series, kicked off last week. What did critics think of this opening issue? Read on and find out-

    9 Panel Grid: “I think this was a really good introductory issue for the event. I’m really curious to see how they’re going to build on it and I think this has the hallmarks to be even better than the Black Stone event.”

    Brother Lore: “…very well written, the pacing is just perfect, and the narrative and action are very nicely balanced…Just go and get it. It’s 100% worth it. You don’t even have to know anything about the characters. You don’t even have to have read the previous issues.”

    Comic Book University: “This blows my mind…This is some of the best writing, art, you name it. Color choices, everything. This is some of the best I’ve ever read and I’ve read a lot.”

    Comic Culture: “The interiors are just brilliant inside the book. The scenery, the character design, the outfits, the action alone. It definitely sucks you right in…I think they’re just tackling this perfectly on all fronts.”

    Comic Watch: 9.3/10 “Artist Ivan Gil knocks it out of the park with his work…a great start to this mini-series, and a great primer for those unfamiliar with Robert E. Howard’s creations. Whether you’re new to Conan or an old hand, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”

    Comical Opinions: 9.5/10 “This issue grabs the reader by the throat and never loosens its grip…The absolute standout is the comic’s ability to juggle three timelines without a stumble, making the complex seem effortless. The pacing snaps and crackles, rendering each era distinct yet part of a devastating whole.”

    Cool Thunder: 8.5/10 “With Jim Zub’s commanding script, Ivan Gil’s dynamic art, and Jao Canola’s rich colors, this debut issue delivers both striking visuals and compelling momentum.”

    Doc Lail Talks Comics: A+ “This book absolutely knocks it out of the park, artwork-wise, story-wise, everything is just extremely strong…Three different eras and they all intersect beautifully. It’s majestic.”

    Evan the Architect: “This is setting up to be another fun epic mini-series. Fantastic art by Ivan Gil. I highly recommend checking it out.”

    Gaming Trend: 9/10 “The story is compelling, with equal parts action, mystery, and supernatural to entice readers new and old…this is a solid first issue in what I believe will be an exciting new chapter for Robert E. Howard’s timeless characters.”

    Gary B the Casual Comic Guy: “A really great setup, a cool cliffhanger…I think Jim Zub really knocked it out of the park in this first issue. Ivan Gil and the whole team just did a fantastic job.”

    Goodreads: 10/10 “This is good; nay, it’s great!…The hits keep coming, and I will keep feasting. Serving up ancient magic, adventure and danger on a silver platter brings me back to my youngest years”

    League of Comic Geeks: “A beautiful book…It’s been a wonderful journey so far and one of the highlights of my year.”

    Lord Samper’s Library: “Zub handles both sets of narrative strands with his usual aplomb and Gil’s artwork complements the plot perfectly.”

    Mighty Thorngren: “Zub’s got such a great voice for this universe. Fantastic art, wonderful pacing, good
    story…This was a fantastic issue. I had a blast with it.”

    Nerd Initiative: “Top tier, god-tier stuff for writing, with an incredible series of artists and Ivan Gil jumps right in with mind-blowing art on this book. This was fantastic and I cannot wait to see where it ends up…And no need to worry if you’ve read two years of Conan books to catch up. You can jump right in.”

    Old Man Hyborian: “Zub expertly weaves Howard’s characters together and the art by Ivan Gil is very well done. An excellent issue for introducing Robert E. Howard’s characters to the masses.”

    Old Nerd Reviews NY: “The art is brilliant, the writing is intriguing, and it is a good size book so you’re getting your money’s worth.”

    Pop Culture Philosophers: “The artwork is amazing. Super solid, stellar work from all parties involved…Conan the Barbarian has cemented itself as one of the best, if not the best, fantasy comics on shelves today and Scourge of the Serpent just shows us why.”

    Stygian Dogs: “Jim Zub, while successfully wielding his own creative sorcery, harnesses Howard’s original prose in what feels like an ambitious love letter to the author’s legacy, and it’s a visually stunning one. Ivan Gil’s pages are densely detailed.”

    Superhero Hype: 9/10 “-a showcase of everything that made Howard’s writing stand the test of time. The action sequences are undeniably intense and well-illustrated by Gil. This series should unquestionably be read by every fan of weird horror, sword-and-sorcery, and quality comics.”

    Thinking Critical: “It’s a fun set-up, meeting these different characters and I want to see how they’re going to be brought together and what will happen when they are. Beautiful art as well…Really damn good.”

    Two Guys and a Stack of Comics: “There’s a lot of intrigue, a lot of action, and I think overall this entire plot that’s been put together over the last six months is the best Conan has ever been in terms of plot…I think this event will absolutely deliver.”

    Void City Reviews: “This isn’t wholly on its own, but I think it can be read that way it’s just you’ll get more out of it if you have read the rest of the Conan series…It works really well and it’s gorgeous to look at.”

    Zub Comics Arriving December 2025

    CONAN THE BARBARIAN #27
    Story: Jim Zub
    Line Art: Fernando Dagnino
    Colors: Diego Rodriguez
    COVER A: NICK MARINKOVICH
    COVER B: DOUG BRAITHWAITE
    COVER C: JUAN JOSÉ RYP
    COVER D: FEDERICO SABBATINI

    FC • 32pp • $4.99
    On Sale December 10, 2025

    YEAR THREE OF THE TITAN/HEROIC CONAN LEGACY CONTINUES!

    THE CONQUERING CROWN: The King of Aquilonia has gone mad, or so the rumors say. A tyrant sits upon the throne and all will suffer until he is deposed or dead.

    Conan the Mercenary cares nothing for these royal rumors and petty politics, but the Cimmerian’s skill in battle is about to put him in the path of a mad monarch, and his life will be forever changed.



    CONAN: SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT #4 (of 4)
    Story: Jim Zub
    Line Art: Ivan Gil
    Colors: João Canola
    COVER A: ROBERTO DE LA TORRE
    COVER B: LUCIO PARRILLO
    COVER C: MARK BAGLEY

    FC • 32pp • $4.99
    On Sale December 31, 2025

    THE NEW CONAN EPIC EVENT CONCLUDES!

    CONAN OF CIMMERIA has encountered Stygian sorcery and snake-sent creatures many times in his grand adventures, but he has never faced the true unspeakable power of SET… until NOW.

    The serpent god’s influence coils around the Hyborian Age and every other age linked to it. Three stunning supernatural stories will weave together to answer a chilling question of past and present – What is Set’s grand plan for humanity and, now that it’s begun, can it be stopped?

    Conan the Barbarian #24 Reviews

    Conan the Barbarian #24, the intense snake-sent climax to our Nest of Serpents arc, arrived in stores this week. What did critics think of it? Let’s see-

    9 Panel Grid: “Top Comic of the Week…Dagnino does an absolutely stunning job. Each scene is just staged perfectly. This is a big action-packed storyline and it just delivers every single time. There are jump scares, there’s moments of brutality, there’s moments of kineticism and action, and he gets to deliver on all of them.”

    Comic Book Corner 2.0: “This book just does not disappoint, right?…Top pick for me, A+. Conan is an awesome, awesome comic book.”

    Comic Book University: “Consistently excellent…This is a story arc you’re not going to want to miss. This is a finale you’re not going to want to skip.”

    Comic Culture: “It’s a really compelling story overall and I love how it’s branching over to Savage Sword as well. There’s just a great vibe with the story in general…I’m really interested to see where this whole Serpent arc is going.”

    Comical Opinions: 9.5/10 “This issue proves that even after all these years, Conan’s ‘gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth’ are just what sword-and-sorcery fans deserve. Next time someone asks for epic fantasy, hand them this comic.”

    Cool Thunder: 10/10 “The combination of storytelling, artwork, lettering, and overall production makes this series shine like one of the gleaming cities of the Hyborian Age. This issue proves once again that Conan the Barbarian is modern sword and sorcery at its finest.”

    Eternal Crusader: “I was pleasantly surprised by Zub cleaning up some loose plot threads that made me question the narrative’s coherence in my last review. But the revelations presented here do make sense, hark back to #20, and bring new tensions into Zula’s and Conan’s already tense comradeship.”

    Evan the Architect: “I can’t wait to see where Jim Zub takes all this because I’m really enjoying it. Of course, fantastic artwork by Dagnino…I come on here every month and I can’t recommend this book enough.”

    Gaming Trend: 9/10 “With plenty of action and no shortage of high stakes, Conan the Barbarian #24 is a fun rollercoaster ride carrying us at a breakneck pace towards a heavy conclusion that carries a promise of something more ahead.”

    Goodreads: 10/10 “The art speaks for itself, but between that and the writing, the Hyborian Age is brought fully to life as always, and the last page in this episode has left me more excited than I thought I was capable of.”

    Grimdark Magazine: “Jim Zub has managed to pack quite a bit of story into a single issue, and his narration work is appropriately breathless…a strong conclusion to one of the best storylines in Titan Comics’ two-year run.”

    League of Comic Geeks: 10/10 “Man, just banger after banger with this book!…The story had an incredibly heartbreaking moment that I didn’t see coming. The art continues to excel in action and drama. Must read!”

    Lord Samper’s Library: “This story has it all and signs off in style with man-serpents, a burning city and promises of revenge all round…Conan The Barbarian continues to go from strength to strength, long may it continue.”

    Major Spoilers: 9/10 “I love that Jim Zub is able to craft a story you can step into and understand right away what’s going on and I think Fernando might be my one of my new favorite artists…If you are even slightly interested in Conan, what Titan Comics is doing with the series is really cool.”

    Mighty Thorngren: “This issue is just a pleasure to look at. Really cool creatures. Great fights and the pacing is wonderful.”

    Nerd Initiative: 10/10 “For two years now, 24 issues, this series can stand alongside classic Conan stories. Jim Zub is knocking it out of the park on this book. It is great stuff, and the art from Fernando Dagnino is amazing.”

    Old Man Hyborian: “Overall, issue 24 was well done…Zub’s still cranking out good stories and the artwork is really solid.”

    Pop Culture Philosophers: “It’s old school mixed with new school and it works so well. This is the best modern Conan book I’ve ever read…This is the s**t and if you’re not reading Conan the Barbarian, you’re not reading one of the best comics on shelves every single month!”

    SciFi Pulse: 9.6/10 “Fernando Dagnino and Diego Rodríguez do a brilliant job throughout this issue…The scale, atmosphere, and sense of dread are all perfectly pitched.”

    Stygian Dogs: “From the eerie subterranean nest to Conan’s harrowing loss. Man, I just love this arc. It was great…Issue number 24 delivers a rousing finale, both the peak of the series’ second year and a fitting sword and sorcery capstone to two stellar years of Conan comics.”

    Sword & Sorcery Book Club: “We’re back at the best position that Jim usually has. He has a great artist with him to support his endeavors and ready to jump into the Scourge of the Serpent…Very, very good stuff. I can’t wait to read more.”

    Thinking Critical: “Pick of the Week…The final battle in this issue – the setup, holy crap, it is creepy. It is so well illustrated. And the ending to this issue, it is straight up heartbreaking. I completely loved it.”

    Two Guys and A Stack of Comics: “This is a classic in the making and people are going to love it. If you love comic books, this is one to pick up. I thought this was the best issue of the series so far.”

    Void City Reviews: “The art’s incredible. The writing is phenomenal. I loved every second of this…This is what I want from Conan on a month in, month out basis.”

    Whole Lotta Comics: “This one stuck with me, I’m not gonna lie…This was an insane issue, by far my favorite in this arc.”

    Zubby Newsletter #127: The Nest Beneath

    Conan the Barbarian #24 artwork by Fernando Dagnino and Diego Rodriguez.

    CONAN THE BARBARIAN #24, the climax of our Nest of Serpents arc (which, as you can see from the amazing artwork above, is a title that’s both literal and symbolic), is in stores TODAY and, I’m obviously a bit biased, but I think it’s sharp sword & sorcery entertainment. This issue is propelled to amazing heights by the line art of Fernando Dagnino and colors of Diego Rodriguez, with sublime lettering by Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith, and a captivating lore essay by the always informative Jeff Shanks.

    We’re cookin’ now, kids! Big atmosphere, big monsters, big action.

    CONAN THE BARBARIAN #25, our fully painted King Conan done-in-one epic anniversary issue, is on Final Order Cutoff NOW so make sure you let your favorite local or online retailer know which cover(s) grab you and get in that pre-order. It’s going to be one for the ages, as will our event mini-series…


    Hype Trailer Is Hype

    …Speaking of which, Titan has put together this teaser trailer for the CONAN: SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT mini-series. Let Ivan Gil‘s excellent artwork and the pounding soundtrack sweep you up in the excitement of our time-twirled epic. The first issue arrives in stores on September 24th!


    Dragon Con Interviews

    While I was at Dragon Con a couple weeks ago, I spoke to a couple different press outlets:
    Over on the Super Powered Fancast, I chatted about how wild the convention was and comics I enjoyed growing up.

    An English Man in San Diego recorded a short interview with me where we talk swords & sorcery, D&D, conventions, great new comics, and more.


    AI’s Latest Fawning Fakery

    I received this email last week and it took me a few seconds to realize “Rebecca” generated this message with AI. It’s oddly specific yet also vague at the same time.

    A quick search of “Rebecca”‘s contact info revealed that they can also tutor my child in Math, compose essays, and write my next resume.

    It’s laser targeted at me (and many other authors are receiving similar targeted emails from different outlets), with distinct info about Savage Sword #10 and my career injected with excitement, but there’s also a glossy emptiness to all of it. By the time I hit the sales pitch I already knew it was generated, and also creeped out by how specific it was.

    Stay vigilent and don’t fall for this kind of crapola.

    Also, this recent comic strip about AI by Riley Wigglewood made me chuckle:


    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Swords & Larceny – released September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – released September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – released September 10th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – releases September 24th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – released October 7th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #25 – releases October 8th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases October 21st.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2 – releases October 29th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #26 – releases November 12th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #3 – releases November 26th.

  • Upcoming Appearances


    Thrilled to announce I’ll be at New York Comic Con in early October celebrating the release of Conan the Barbarian #25 that week! So excited to be back in Artist Alley with the Comic Sketch Art crew.

    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 9-11, 2025 New York Comic Con New York, NY, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK


    Other Links

    • It’s nice to see the new Conan the Barbarian series listed alongside other classics in this article about the Best Conan Comics on Superhero Hype.

    • My friend Francis Manapul‘s YouTube channel is packed with great art advice and the latest videos, showing him penciling and inking top notch quality art from his creator-owned comic series The Rocketfellers, is an ideal way to see a skilled artist at work and learn from his technique.

    • Equally inspiring to watch is my buddy Dan Panosian‘s YouTube channel. Lots of great traditional and digital technique on display you can learn from.

    • Over on the Robert E. Howard Foundation‘s YouTube channel, they’ve posted the first part of a series of videos for Cimmerian September with an all-star panel of writers and researchers talking about the original Conan the Barbarian stories.

    Tripwire Magazine is funding archival volumes of their classic comic creator interviews, a great piece of comic journalism that deserves to be read and preserved.

    Jim

    Savage Sword of Conan #10 Reviews

    SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #10, a roaring anthology issue with three stories all written by me, arrived in stores as a lead in to our Scourge of the Serpent event. What did critics think of it?

    9 Panel Grid: “Braithwaite’s unpolished original pencils, inks and ink washes are on full display, considering this is Savage Sword and it’s a magazine format book, and they look awesome…I have to say, seeing it here and seeing what we’ve had in Conan the Barbarian, I like both experiences but this was something outside the norm and really made me appreciate it. “

    Brother Lore: “Jim Zub is really replicating the style and writing of Robert E. Howard very well. Much better than many other authors throughout the years who have tried to write Conan stories either in comic book or prose form….This is an absolutely great read.”

    Comic Culture: 10/10 “Artistically, this book is awesome. There are so many cool things happening in here. Every artist is just spectacular. The black and white art, the newspaper quality, the magazine size is incredible…Conan is absolutely killing it for the past like couple years now. I would say one of the most consistent exciting books that’s on the shelf right now.”

    Comical Opinions: 10/10 “a mesmerizing accomplishment in Robert E. Howard reverence and a demonstration of joy for the pulp era of storytelling. Every short is a winner, from the writing to the art, that showcases why those who follow Howard’s example will reap the rewards.”

    Eternal Crusader: “A slam-bang dose of serpentine goodness. Usually, I have a clear favorite artist for a given issue, but this time it’s a three-way tie. The whole creative team delivered their A-game, resulting in an almost cocky showcase of their talents.”

    Evan the Architect: “It looks fantastic and it’s a fun read. If you haven’t been picking up Savage Sword of Conan, I highly recommend it.”

    Gaming Trend: 8.5/10 “Whether you’re a fan of Jim Zub’s ongoing works with Conan the Barbarian and other Robert E Howard stories or simply a fan of action-packed stories of good versus evil, there’s sure to be something you’ll enjoy in this book.”

    Goodreads: “It is indeed good to see a humorous tale with Steve Costigan, with De La Torre’s art giving it that pulpy action that works well.”

    Mighty Thorngren: “This was a great book. I had a real good time reading through this. The main Conan story was fantastic…I’m having a blast with this series. I hope it never stops.”

    Nerd Initiative: 10/10 “These are great books. This reads just like the Savage Sword from back in the day. I feel like I’m 10 years old again…These comics are absolutely fantastic.”

    Pop Culture Philosophers: “I loved it. I thought it was great. This was a super solid issue of Savage Sword of Conan. And guess what? It gets the smell of the week cause it smells like nostalgia, freshness, and badasserie.”

    Stygian Dogs: “I’ve got to say, all in all, this issue made me happy…We get a full Conan feature from a most-deserving Doug Braithwaite in a story with satisfying connections to the recent issues of the monthly series and enough mystery to carry us into the Scourge of the Serpent event series.”

    Sword & Sorcery Book Club: 9/10 “I think Jim did a great job with all these stories. I think all of the artists did great as well…I think my favorite story here was the Sailor Steve Costigan story.”

    Two Guys and a Stack of Comics: “Book of the Week…it’s such a joy to read a book that has things plotted out, has the events that matter, and has building blocks in there. It really seems like Conan is playing chess when everyone else is playing checkers…The art is top notch. The storytelling is top notch.”

    Zubby Newsletter #126: Surviving Nerdi Gras

    The Hyborian Age photo shoot at Dragon Con 2025.

    Dragon Con was absolutely wild. One of our friends casually called it “Nerdi-Gras”, and the description could not have been more apt.

    Mild weather for Atlanta in August meant that the streets were absolutely crammed with people, and an impressive number of them were in costume and ready to party. Five linked hotels plus the Americas Mart convention center hosted booths, events and panels, and every square inch of downtown was overrun with excited pop culture fans. Even the internal hotel TV channels broadcast Dragon Con TV all week. Raucous parties, over-the-top costumes, pounding music, and late nights…It was an incredible (and incredibly exhausting) finish to the summer convention season.

    Two years ago when I was at Dragon Con, we’d just launched the new Conan the Barbarian series and now, with so much wind at our backs, there was a steady stream of readers to meet and fans to chat with about the series along with die hard older collectors regaling me with stories about growing up reading the pulps or original comics. It was a constant reminder of the legacy I currently get to be a small part of.

    Supergirl sketch.

    Having so many conventions back-to-back meant that I was able to slip into drawing mode quicker than usual, which was nice. Lots of character sketches and remarques kept me on my toes between signing times and panels.

    Finch Champion and I, with the drawing of Krydle she drew for me.

    At this show I also bonded with the Comic Sketch Art team. One of the new team members, an artist named Finch Champion, was assigned to my table and she did a wonderful job, handling books and signing stuff throughout the show. Chatting with her about art, storytelling, publishing and conventions scratched a bit of my teaching itch, which is extra scratchy right now as we head into the Fall and I’m no longer a prof at Seneca.

    Nerd Rave in Full Effect.


    The End Before The Beginning

    Cory Smith and I, with that amazing page art.

    At the end of the convention, artist Cory Smith gifted me the final page of our story from Conan the Barbarian #25 (released in late 2021).

    This was the last page of Conan I wrote at Marvel and, at the time, I thought would be the last time I’d ever get to write the Cimmerian’s adventures (little did I know what the future held…)

    When I read that last Marvel story, I’m immediately transported back to pandemic lockdowns and the surreal feeling of watching this dream project slip away with no way to stop it and far more important things happening around the world that I needed to be focused on. Conan’s words work for the story, but they’re also the coda I needed to hear at the time, a resolution to do my best under the circumstances and to try not to regret things out of my control. As you might imagine, having the original art for this page in my collection is really special.

    At the time I proposed that issue #25 of Conan, final issue of the series and legacy #300, should be an epic done-in-one story to celebrate the character and his world. It’s even more surreal that four years later I’m about to release a completely different Conan the Barbarian #25 via Heroic Signatures and Titan, the exact kind of illustrated epic I hoped it could be. Full circle indeed.


    Zubble Double


    This week has two big Zub releases – SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #10, an anthology issue with three separate stories that tie into the upcoming Scourge of the Serpent event, all written by me with stunning artwork by Doug Braithwaite, Mike Rooth, and Roberto De La Torre.

    The second is SWORDS & LARCENY, a new prose anthology of swords & sorcery rogues and rapscallions. I have a new short story inside called Just A Bit of Smoke that I’m quite proud of.


    Black Stone Action Figure – Animated!

    Award-winning stop motion animator Justin Rasch put together this killer ad animation for the upcoming Conan: Battle of the Black Stone action figure. He used the figure’s crazy articulation to craft an incredible blast of action, with Conan squaring off against thrashing eldritch tentacles from beyond.

    If you want your very own figure, pre-orders are NOW OPEN on the Heroic Signatures website. Tell ’em I sent ya.


    Tales From The Table


    Speaking of pre-orders, Target now has the full cover and preview pages for Stranger Things-Dungeons & Dragons: Tales From the Table, the exclusive scrapbook Stacy and I wrote (arriving in November) that chronicles bits of lore from the old school D&D campaigns run by the Hawkins heroes alongside era-appropriate artwork by Donato Giancola.

    Tales From The Table Preview Pages


    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – released August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – released August 20th.
  • Swords & Larceny – released September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – releases September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases September 16th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – releases September 24th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #25 – releases October 8th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2 – releases October 29th.

  • Upcoming Appearances

    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK


    Other Links

    Thomas Flight‘s video documentary, Why The Movies Will Never Feel The Same Again, is an intense rundown of how movies and media have changed over the past 20 years.

    • Over on the Thought Bubble blog, they have some tips for creators exhibiting at their festival (or any other convention). Most of the advice is straight forward for people who have been attending conventions for years, but it’s nice having recommendations like this all organized in one place.

    • Want to own the original Frank Frazetta Rogues in the House painting? As I link this, there are still 9 days left and auction bidding is over 7 million

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #124: Busy Week

    Wait, it’s already Wednesday?! Oh man~

    Artwork from Marvel Comics #1000 by Nick Bradshaw and John Rauch.

    Stacy and I woke up before the sun on Monday and flew home from Seattle after World Con. Our heads are still on west coast time and overall exhaustion from this schedule is driving us into weird work hours and napping over the past couple days while we try to reorganize before Fan Expo Canada.

    (Above is a panel from Marvel Comics #1000, a celebratory anthology issue I was honored to contribute to in 2019. Working with Canadian superstar artist Nick Bradshaw on a Blade story, even just a 1-pager, was such a blast. I’d love to write more street level or supernatural superhero stories and Blade is a character I know I could use to deliver thrills, chills, and mighty blood spills. 🙂 )


    The World Con That Was

    With the Taylers at World Con.

    After boothing with Howard and Sandra Tayler at Gen Con just a couple weeks ago, it was amazing to see them again and experience our first World Con with their guidance. World Con is the oldest science fiction and fantasy convention and it’s not quite like any comic or tabletop gaming convention I’ve been to before.

    The heart of World Con is panel programming – hundreds of panels, really. This year’s program guide had 3-5 panel listings per page and was 196 pages! Since we didn’t have a table of our own, Stacy and I attended way more panels than ever before, taking in a cross section of fan and professional discussions across a wide range of subjects. Most of the workshops covered the basics in terms of writing, editing, and marketing, while some of the more obscure panels were fun in terms of digging into ideas and worlds that don’t normally get much emphasis. It’s diverse, dynamic, and all quite dizzying.

    Being at the Hugo Awards was a fun experience, similar to any other award show, but with the added prestige that the Hugos has across genre publishing. Being there when my friend Ryan North won the Hugo for Best Graphic Story or Comic was a thrill.

    I ran into quite a few friends but also met a lot of new people too – authors, artists and editors working in sci-fi and fantasy. Comics have never had a huge presence at World Con, but entrenched attitudes about the medium are slowly shifting, so it was good to represent sequential art on discussions and hoist the flag for comics in general. I don’t know if it’s a show I can add to my schedule every year (especially since each World Con is hosted in a different city, so travel costs can vary wildly), but it was worth being there this time and putting a face to the name of a lot of people whose work I admire.

    All that said, it was five days of intense conventioning, after the five days that was San Diego Comic Con and five days that was Gen Con, so I’m definitely feeling creaky as we head into Fan Expo Canada this week-


    Fan Expo Canada is This Week?!

    Yes, this week is Canada’s biggest pop culture convention, Fan Expo Canada, August 21-24, 2025. I’m a special guest at this year’s show and will be set up with in the Comic Sketch Art section of Artist Alley at CREATOR TABLE CP70.

    Since this is my local show here in Toronto, I’ll have quite a few Conan the Barbarian back issues and variant covers on hand so, if you’re on the hunt, feel free to reach out and hopefully I can fill in gaps in your collection and sign them at the same time. My location is the opposite from last year, down near the food vendors in the exhibit hall:

    Where you’ll find me at Fan Expo Canada 2025.


    Conan Is Even Bigger Than Before

    This October, Titan is releasing CONAN THE BARBARIAN Vol. 1: BOUND IN BLACK STONE in a new oversized hardcover deluxe edition, and they just posted up this quick flip-through of the book to show readers and retailers what’s inside:




    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – released July 9th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – released August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – released August 20th.
  • Swords & Larceny – releases September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – releases September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – releases September 10th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases September 16th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #25 – releases October 8th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2 – releases October 29th.

  • Upcoming Appearances

    Aug 21-24, 2025 Fan Expo Canada Toronto, ON, CANADA
    Aug 28-Sep 1, 2025 Dragon Con Atlanta, GA, USA
    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK


    Other Links

    • When I was an instructor at Seneca, one of the courses I taught was Animation History, so I have an extensive collection of old animated films and always keep an eye out for new releases of classic material – This November, Cartoon Logic is releasing a restored high definition collection of Aesop’s Fables cartoon shorts from the 1920’s. I have a lot of these cartoons, but the quality is quite low so I look forward to upgrading.

    John Shableski talks about explosive graphic novel sales growth at Otto Bookstore, an independant shop in Williamsport, PA – “Our graphic novel selection went from those three titles to 1100 and nearly 3/4 of the titles are middle grade.”

    Jim