Conan #50 – Review

Timothy Truman (Writer), Tomas Giorello (Art), Jose Villarrubia (Colors)

Don’t let the $4.99 cover price scare you off, this book is worth it. This is the conclusion of the “Hand of Nergal” story arc which has run for the past few issues and it’s a fine, action-packed conclusion.

The reader is quickly brought up to speed on the situation and away we go. You’ve got all your standard Conan elements here – a damsel or two in distress, no shortage of undead swordsmen for Conan to hack at, an oversized Lovecraftian beasty and a wicked schemer, Atalis, with a sinister lust for power. Conan and his small band find their way into Atalis’s lair whereupon they are immediately imperiled by the foul beasty. Just as Atalis unfolds the nature of his plan Conan and his band rally and after a touch of sorcery and much swordplay, emerge victorious.

While this may sound like stories you’ve read before it really is worth the read. Tim Truman shows a real facility with the character and the genre as he delivers a forty-page story that moves along crisply to a satisfying conclusion. The artwork throughout is superb and wonderfully colored as well. One of my complaints about many modern comics is that the colors are so dark that they obscure the art. Jose Villarubia uses a muted pastel palette that captures the mood of the story while letting Tomas Giorello’s art shine.

Not only do you get this fine story but Dark Horse reprints “The Hand of Nergal” from Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian #30 by Roy Thomas and John Buscema with an introductory essay from Roy, himself. The reprint has been recolored and relettered for the Chronicles of Conan Vol. 5 and provides an interesting contrast with the main feature. Top it all off with a beauty of a cover by Tony Harris and you’ve quite a nice package here.

This issue marks the conclusion of Dark Horse’s series of Conan as a wandering thief. At the end of the issue Conan sets off for home where his tales will be picked up in June with Conan the Cimmerian #0. I’ve been reading this Conan series for the past year and look forward to the new series, especially if the quality is up to the level of this issue. (Grade: A)

– Arthur Cooke

Y: The Last Man #60 (Final Issue) – Review

By: Brian K. Vaughan (Writer), Pia Guerra (Pencils), Jose Marzan Jr. (Inks)

Warning: The last issue of Y: The Last Man is a tear jerker. It’s a great send off to one of the most consistently good books of the past five years. Issue #60 showcases the best of Brian K. Vaughan’s talents as he touches upon all the main characters of the book and gives them a proper send off.

The book takes places 60 years later, showing us what’s become of Yorick Brown and (wo)mankind. The world seems to be a more stable place now, with the problems that plagued nations before the fall of men, becoming more commonplace. Yorick is an old man now, a man who’s thought to be broken, inviting death to take him. And as he converses with a lowly visitor, Vaughan takes us on a trip down memory lane, dropping hints of what happened after issue #59. There’s one particular scene involving Ampersand that’s particularly emotional.

Like Vaughan, Pia Guerra puts her heart into every single panel. Her double splash page of France is breathtaking and the emotions she puts on her characters’ faces are unforgettable. I don’t know how hard it was for her to drawn this issue, but there’s a particular sadness about it.

Hats off to the entire team of Y: The Last Man. As someone who’s been on board since the beginning, it’s hard seeing this series end, but it’s ending doesn’t cheat you. Instead, it makes you smile. (Grade: A+)

– J. Montes

A Second Opinion

I was lost for a moment after the “60 Years from Now” title. What? I won’t be able to see what happened to Yorick?! Then came the flashbacks. Much better.

Beth and Hero. WOW! I didn’t expect that.

For the Spanish uneducated, “Alas” means “Wings”. But it’s not that hard to understand. It was bittersweet to see all the characters for the last time. I’m going to miss them. (Grade: A)

-Daniel Yanez