Robert E. Howard’s Hawks of Outremer #1 – Advance Review

By: Robert E. Howard (original story), Michael Alan Nelson (adaptation), Damian Couciero (art), Juan Manuel Tumburus (colors) & Johnny Lowe (letters)

The Story: Legendary warrior Cormac Fitzgeoffrey seeks vengeance and honor during the Crusades-era in the Middle East.

What’s Good: Without going into plot developments (since this is an advance review), this comic was a lot of fun.  I was prepared not to love it since I’m generally not a huge fan of comic adaptations, but it turns out well.  Our hero, Cormac, is a tremendously powerful warrior, but is interested in being bound to no King or Lord.  He is following his own path and happens to be enough of a badass with his sword and axe that he can get away with it.

The source material for this comic seems to be out of print, and the comic is written wholly as if the reader has no prior knowledge of the original works.  This first issue does a good job of introducing Cormac, his ethos and some of the confusing politics of the Crusades.  The comic is set in Antioch in 1190, so this is towards the end of the Crusades and definitely set among the downfall of the Christian city-states of the era.  Any history buff of this era is libel to enjoy this comic somewhat as is any fan of Assassin’s Creed I.

The art is quite effective at handling the action and over-the-top bravado of the writing.  From the way that he is drawn, you can really believe that Cormac would have been the baddest man on the field of battle

Queen Sonja #1 – Review

by Joshua Ortega (writer), Mel Rubi (art), Luke Lieberman (executive editor)

The Story: We are introduced to Sonja, the warrior queen of Sogaria, whose realm is being invaded by the Emoran army. Then, flashback to four months earlier, when Red Sonja was hired to help a small territory defend itself against Sogarian raiders. She takes the job, but her first encounter with the enemy turns out to be far different than she expected.

What’s Good: I can’t say enough about Rubi’s art. The action sequences are dynamite, the jewelry, clothing and weapons vivid, the “camera angles” varied and interesting, the faces expressive and the settings evocative. The first page is a great example of the draftsmanship that Rubi brings to the table, with an intricate crown, expressive posture and grip, smooth, but textured skin and shining gems. Rubi treats us to a several splash pages, and it’s worth mentioning that the actual dialogue and text-box writing is quite sparse. Most of the story is told through the art and this was a wise choice by Ortega.

In the parts where we hear Ortega’s voice more directly, the individuality of each character shines through the dialogue. One of the brigands she deals with in the first part of the story doesn’t use pronouns. Another says “prolly” instead of “probably”, which says a lot more about him in one mispronounced word than most writers and artists could show us in a page. Ortega gives Red Sonja a few one-liners, in part because she makes at least three dramatic entrances in this first issue.

There is also a back-up story by Roy Thomas, Estaban Maroto, Neal Adams and Ernie Chan from the mid-seventies that has been recently been re-colored by Jose Villarrubia. It is an excellent story and the new colors and printing on better paper really outshine the pulpy paper and give the story more power. It was also a real treat to see some Neal Adams work re-colored as if it was new.

What’s Not So Good: Very hard to complain about such a great book. For the record, I might have criticized Sonja’s state of occasional or partial undress gratuitous in other settings, but the fact is that this is part of how she was conceived by Robert E. Howard and how the setting perceives her.

Conclusion: You get a whole lot of quality story and first class production for only $2.99 with Queen Sonja #1. I started reading Red Sonja because of podcasts I’d heard from Dynamite, but I’d felt a little lost jumping in mid-story. This is a great issue to get on board.

Grade: A-

–DS Arsenault

Conan the Cimmerian #5 – Review

By Timothy Truman (writer) Tomas Giorello and Rochard Corben (art), Jose Villarrubia (colorist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I was actually quite hesitant to pick this one up. While I have enjoyed the series for the most part, my interest is definitely beginning to fade. Conan’s “trip back home” arc has gone on long enough in my opinion, but seeing as though it is going to run through issue seven, I figured I might as well just stick it with it a bit longer.

The Story: Conan and Caollan find themselves on the defensive, as Horsa’s group moves in for the woman. Luckily, a recent acquaintance shows up just in time to provide some support so Conan can continue on the path back home. As for Connacht, he finds himself on board a slaver’s ship in a situation ripe for a revolt.

What’s Good: While I have little doubt that this story arc will read much better as a collection, each installment is still entertaining and visually pleasing enough. Conan’s journey has a weight and urgency to it that allows for some nice character work among all the action. Connacht’s tale also proves worthwhile, as events and decisions made in his time continue to be subtly reflected in the present. Also good is the fact that the ending of the issue means that the next will bring a very welcome change to the somewhat stale proceedings.

What’s Not So Good: Some of the action in the book is marred by awkward or confusing direction. While the artwork is strong as a whole, I found myself a bit confused on the flow of events on more than one occasion. Also, it is worth mentioning that Timothy Truman’s storytelling structure is probably better suited for a collected format. I consider this “not so good” because, while the bigger picture improves every month, the chapters ultimately feel as though they are lacking the instant gratification that most people read monthly comics for. Conan The Cimmerian #5 is no exception.

Conclusion: The latest chapter in the Conan the Cimmerian series is entertaining, but I can’t say that it is necessarily worth the cash. If you have been enjoying watching the bigger picture come together, then by all means pick it up. But if you, like me, have been a bit frustrated by the arc’s pacing, you may want to skip it.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

A Second Opinion

I agree with Kyle that this story will probably read better as a collection. I get the sense that once the second half of the story starts, all the previous issues will feel like filler. Everything is entertaining, beautifully written and drawn, but it feels like these five issues could have been cut down to two or three. Nevertheless, I respect the meticulous setup of Cimmeria and the reintroduction of Conan. Mission accomplished. Now I’m ready for things to get started and to move away from all the walking and little battles.

After seeing these little glimpses of his life, anyone else really want a Connacht series?

Grade: B

-Ben Berger

Kull #1 (of 6) – Review

By Arvid Nelson (writer), Will Conrad (art), Jose Villarrubia (colors)

The Story: Robert E. Howard’s other barbarian makes his home at Dark Horse in this limited series that adapts Howard’s story “The Shadow Kingdom.”  In this first issue, Kull of Atlantis seizes the throne of the ancient kingdom of Valusia and attempts to consolidate his power by defeating Count Areyas, a noble from the old regime who refuses to go down without a fight.  When his defenses are betrayed from within, Areyas unleashes the monster Etrigor in a desperate bid to destroy the barbarian king.

The Good: Fans of Robert Howard will find this to be a solid, faithful adaptation of Kull.  Nelson’s dialogue is every bit as hard edged and spartan as Howard would have written it, while Conrad’s art has a power and detail to it that you don’t see enough of in comics right now; specifically, I’m thinking of a double page spread of Kull in the middle of the comic that I would gladly pay to buy a poster of.

The Not So Good: This was a terrific stand alone issue, but it fails to set up the plot for the rest of the story, or convince me why I even need to buy the next issue.  There was one time where a character mentioned a “shadow kingdom” hidden below Valusia, but the reference was never brought up again, and not given enough weight to make me think that this was important.

Conclusion: A solid, if unevenly paced fantasy adventure that is a great addition to the Robert Howard franchise at Dark Horse.  If you’re looking for something different, you can pick up and enjoy this issue without feeling obligated to buy the entire series.  However, if you want to follow the whole story, you may be better off waiting for the graphic novel instead.

Grade: B-

-Tony Rakittke

A Second Opinion

This is a solid debut and I had a good time reading it. My problem is that there isn’t anything here that sets this apart from other similarly told stories. Perhaps as the book continues we’ll learn more about why Kull’s such a great character, but from what I gathered the only thing that makes him somewhat interesting is his approach to war. The mishandling of the battle near the end provides a possible setup for consequences down the road, but somehow I don’t see politics playing a big role in the storyline. I don’t think I’d want to see it either.

Grade: B-

– J. Montes

Solomon Kane #1 – Review

By Scott Allie (writer), Mario Guevara (art), Dave Stewart (colors)

Wow, this was a big surprise for me. Going into this series I had no background of Solomon Kane or his past exploits. I thought this might be some gun-slinging Western book or maybe something similar to Steven King’s Dark Tower, but instead I got a book rooted deeply in Europe’s 17th century. Having lived in Germany and actually been to the Black Forest, I was instantly captivated by the story’s setting.

The opening pages set the tone very quickly. There’s going to be violence in this series – the kind that can only be had when dealing with swords and guns – and the graphic nature displayed should be enough to make you decide if this is the book for you or not. If you’re not privy to seeing guts and entrails or horses getting mauled, then you might want to skip this book. Me? I’m all for it!

Now, after the initial violence dies off, the plot quickly grabs hold and doesn’t let go. We meet Kane’s sidekick, John Silent, and delve into an engaging mystery that could have easily been written off as a “kill the town tyrant” story. Luckily, Scott Allie doesn’t make it that easy. Instead, Allie slowly peels the layers, adding  intrigue and complexities to the story. What surprised me was the Old English used by the characters and just how eloquently the story is written. It’s not Shakespeare, nor is it crazy Thor speak, so don’t fret. Allie seems to have a very good grasp on the story, the spoken languages (English and German), and the pacing of the story.

Equally impressive is the haunting art by Mario Guevara. Normally, this is where I’d chastise an artist for not using an inker, but Guevara’s work here flows beautifully and immerses the reader in Solomon Kane’s world. If you’re a fan of Dore or Barry Windsor-Smith’s art, you’ll be digging the style on display here. Guevara is easily one of the most refreshing artists I’ve come across all year. To say I’m in love with his art is a complete understatement.

Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. These days, I know there’s a temptation to wait for the trade, but in this case I feel it’s highly justified to reward the creative team (and publisher) for delivering a comic book of such high quality. (Grade: A+)

– J. Montes

Conan The Cimmerian #1 – Review

By Tim Truman (writer), Tomàs Giorello, Richard Corben (artists), Jose Villarrubia (colors)

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this relaunch of sorts, but so far, it’s pretty good. If you read the #0 issue that came out last month, you’ll find a minor connection between that story and this one. Conan’s still up in the northern territories and he’s got more “dwarven” like vermin to deal with. The first few pages seem to go through the motions of obligatory violence and set up before making a sharp left turn.

The surprise here is that there isn’t much of a Conan story in this issue at all! Instead, we’re taken aback a couple of generations with Conan’s grandfather, Connacht. The story centers around Connacht’s journey to the north and his rescuing of two young boys from being sacrificed (or just killed) by a deranged cult. The art for this flashback by Richard Corben is very cinematic in nature, and his strong use of blacks (matched with Jose Villarrubia’s colors), paints a haunting haunting tale. I found myself being completely absorbed into the story and the art played a huge role in making that happen. So much did I enjoy this tale, that I actually forgot that I was reading a book about Conan.

Now, if Dark Horse wants to end this series now and just make a book about Connacht, I’m all for it. It’s great to have something completely different, yet somewhat familiar. Nothing against Conan mainstay artist, Tomas Giorello, who has the Conan formula down to a science, but the “non-Conan” art and story was far superior. It’s a bit of a risk to stray from the main character in the first issue, but Tim Truman gets high marks for pulling it off. I’m sure this is all just a primer for Conan’s tale up north, but damn if it isn’t fun to read. And the best part is Connacht’s story isn’t over yet.

In the end, part of me was yearning for a strong Conan debut, and its a little disappointing that we don’t get one. But on the other hand, we an excellent story marking the debut of Conan’s grandfather. So, take it as you will. Me? I know the Conan stories will come. In the meantime, I’m going to sit back and get lost in Connacht’s adventure. (Grade: A-)

– J. Montes

A Second Opinion

Thanks to this new series, I finally feel comfortable jumping into a Conan ongoing. I have read issues of Conan stories here and there, but never felt I had a grasp on the larger picture of things. The last Dark Horse run was pretty far along when I became interested in it, so I figured I would just wait until I found a clear jump-on point. The Conan the Cimmerian series is that point. Issue #0 did a nice job setting the story up and I looked forward to what the debut issue would have to offer.

While it wasn’t really what I was expecting, I have very few complaints about this first issue. Having Conan merely there to set the stage for another character could have easily rubbed me the wrong way considering that this is the first time I’ve jumped into a Conan series, but Connacht’s story is so compelling that I hardly cared about the change. Jason pretty much nailed it all with his review, so let me just say that this would be a great place for anyone interested in Conan to jump on.

While you won’t get much Conan, trust me when I say that Connacht is still very much worth reading about.  (Grade A-)

– Kyle Posluszny

Conan The Cimmerian #0 – Review

Timothy Truman (writer), Tomas Giorello (artist), Jose Villarrubia (colors), Richard Starkings & Comicraft (letters)

I love Conan. I think he’s a great character with a very interesting world. Most of my exposure to him was through the movies, so reading this comic was a little different for me. Not bad, just different. This issue sets up Conan’s return to Cimmeria which will be the plot of the new ongoing Conan story.

Truman’s writing of Conan is pretty solid. It’s less dumb barbarian, and more warrior king. He’s a man of few words – more content to let his actions and his sword speak for him. It’s a difficult book to critique from a writing perspective because there isn’t much dialogue. Conan says very little, and the raiders he kills are dead before they can say too much.

Truman does use the poem “Cimmeria” by Robert E. Howard throughout to great effect. The poem reads like a tall-tale, fable, or campfire story. It serves a number of purposes. First, it reintroduces us to Conan’s world and the comic. Second, it sets the tone of the book and its future issues by being both somber and badass. Third, the poem describes both Conan and Cimmeria as if the two are synonymous. Conan and his country have come to your town like a force of nature and you either get swept up in it, or get out of their way.

Giorello does an excellent job of conveying the story here. His style looks like an incredibly detailed painting. Unlike someone like Alex Ross who favors the epic look, Giorello takes a much more gritty approach. This is complemented really well by Villarrubia’s coloring, which is dark to fit the tone. There are several really awesome panels of Conan’s battle. My favorite of which being when Conan kills The Axe-Man. It’s both bloody and brutal.

The worst part about this book is that it ends. It does feel short, but it definitely wets your appetite for more. This is a great read for anyone who likes Conan, swordplay, or blood. The pencils, inks, and writing is all on point here, let’s hope they can keep up the good work. (Grade: B)

– Ben Berger

A Second Opinion

As a fan of the last Conan series that finished just a month or two ago, I’m pretty excited to see how Timothy Truman interprets the next stage of Conan’s life. To be honest, the work he did after Kurt Busiek left the series was pale by comparison; most of the stories seemed to suffer from pacing problems or from being drawn out too long.

With this issue #0, Truman immediately sets the tone for the series. This is not the gallivanting troublemaker who we saw meer months ago. This is a hardened man who’s grown mature from the countless battles and adventures of his past. I’m keen to see where things go from here – and for 99 cents, this issue’s hard to pass up.

I’m still not a fan of the Conan books not having traditional inkers. While Cary Nord was able to get away with a lot thanks to his brilliant colorist, Tomas Giorello’s work feels unfinished and messy at times. The coloring goes a long way in bringing the world to life, however. And in this dull, barren land, the stark color of the blood does a good job of highlighting the brutal violence being depicted.

Consider me on board, at least for the first few issues. (Grade: B)

– J. Montes

Conan #49 – Review

By Timothy Truman (writer), Tomas Guirello (art), Jose Villarrubia (color)

Argh! This issue ends so abruptly that it’s frustrating! I was somewhat disappointed with last issue’s story. Thankfully, Conan #49 gives us more progress. After defeating Conan and the princess’ entourage, the undead army mistakenly takes the queen’s servant, Iniri to the city-state of Yaralet. She is to be sacrificed to the dark god, Nergal – more specifically, Nergal’s Scion – a nasty creature that looks like something out of a Lovecraft novel.

This whole kidnapping and sacrificing thing has become a moral dilemma for the King, but he’s so heavily influenced that he goes on ahead with it anyway. Meanwhile, Conan recovers from his wounds and finds the princess near the water’s edge – thrown clear from the battle. Feeling somewhat in debt to the sacrifice of her servant, the princess is determined to save Iniri from Nergal’s scion and Conan, being the nice guy that he is, reluctantly decides to help.

I’m beginning to get into this story now, but like I said, it’s just over too quickly. Those who wait for the trades on this series will have a much better time with it than the monthly readers. Timothy Truman, like Kurt Busiek before him, is quite a wordsmith. His narration of the story is excellent. Tomas Giorello’s art is growing on me as well. Next month will conclude this story line and the series. We know Conan’s going to slay that monster, but how he does it should be the fun part. (Grade: C+)

– J. Montes

Conan #48 – Review

By Timothy Truman (writer), Tomas Giorello (art), JD Mettler (colors)

Conan #48 begins the “Darkness Rising” storyline. It follows a servant girl to the queen named, Iniri,who’s en route to the Capital under armed guard. But when they’re ambushed by horde of undead soldiers, it’s up to Conan to save the day. This is my first issue of Conan since Kurt Busiek’s run. The style and feel of the story almost seem out of place. Perhaps it’s because this story follows the girl more than Conan or perhaps it’s because Cary Nord is no longer around. Whatever it is, I didn’t get the charge I usually do from reading an issue of this series.

There’s a lot of violence in this book and it makes for a quick read – only the narration seems to slow things down. There’s also a subplot that’s briefly touched upon regarding an undead warrior who has Conan’s number. But his appearance doesn’t surprise or invoke any emotion at all. It’s all just a little subdued. There is, however, a ghastly creature (The Scion of Nergal), that’s pretty nightmarish. I’m interested to see how Conan eventually confronts it.

Despite the dark themes, the book is colored with a lot of bright colors and that’s kind of what threw me off. It’s just lacking in atmosphere right now. With two issues left, I’m hopeful that Tim Truman and company can turn things around. (Grade: C-)

– J.Montes