Comic Review: Conan #1 (Marvel)

[bedsitter23]

Conan The Barbarian (2019-) #1 by Jason Aaron

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Of all employees for the Big Two, Jason Aaron is probably the best writer that I have never read.

So, because of that I thought I would get in on the ground floor for the return of Conan to Marvel, and the new relaunch.

A few things first, I am not necessarily a big fantasy or a sword-and-sorcery guy, in general; when it comes to the written word. That said, it's because I find those themes very visual, so I am drawn to comics and movies that handle these themes if they are done well. Ironically, I couldn't get into Kurt Busiek's Conan run, but I have picked up S&S titles in the past, and Conan was one of the first characters that I was introduced to as a reader. Those things bind me to the character.

Still, that means this has challenges, so I am glad that Jason Aaron was the right choice for the title. Aaron has proven his fandom via social media. He gets the character. His Conan checks off all the expectations that one might have. His Conan is nuanced (as nuanced as Conan can be), there's action, plot. humor, back story, and world-building. Granted, Conan is a tough character to steer post-#metoo (Heck, even before, then), so I think Aaron does a good job of navigating these waters (also throwing in the fact, he's competing against modern action heroes), hitting a nice chord between a charismatic tough guy who has a code of honor and the one who crushes his enemies and hears the lamentations of their women. Even, those issues that don't translate well to a modern sensibility are handled with nuance.

While I am not crazy about a $5 price range, it is the correct decision. This allows for a larger issue that allows for big action scene and still gets in plenty of story. It's a tough blend. Take an action-heavy comic (say Brisson's Iron Fist, for example) and if you are more interested in story than art, then you are done with the issue in about five minutes. The size of this book allows both.

I think everyone will be fine with artist Mahmud Ashar, who gives it a classic Conan feel. Respected Conan writer John Hocking contributes a novella story which takes up three pages. I skimmed over it (and given the extra pages, don't feel ripped off), but I also think it's probably a decent Conan story, so it's there if you want it.

I sat on this review for issue #1 for too long, and now issue #2 is out. The good news is Issue #2 only confirms my thoughts on Issue #1. Undoubtedly, Conan won't be for everyone, but I am looking forward to this.



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