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Post by Jason Aiken on Feb 18, 2020 16:58:21 GMT -5
When and if the SSOC comes back it should be something similar to the DC Black Label series - just imagine seeing a deluxe issue of SSOC on the shelves alongside the DC Black Label books at your local comic book store. I mean that was the whole point of SSoC back at its inception: a version that could push the subject matter and its depictions thereof further than the mainline series. Right now I'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between the new Savage Sword of Conan and the new Conan the Barbarian comics. Agreed, Savage Sword is basically the B book, which is an insult and idiotic creative direction from editorial. Unless Marvel gets really crazy and relaunches Savage Sword as a MAX title then I don't think we have any hope of it living back up to its name. At least Marvel cancelled it and isn't trying to put the red lipstick on that pig any longer. That was a mercy killing. The ideal format would be to have Savage Sword as a MAX book with all foreign artists. Very few American artists this day and age "get" Conan or Sword-and-Sorcery. Marvel prides themselves on their diversity, how about doing it on Conan... just turn some international superstars loose on the Cimmerian and go find some.
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Post by Von K on Feb 18, 2020 18:47:50 GMT -5
The ideal format would be to have Savage Sword as a MAX book with all foreign artists. That seems right to me. I recall you all discussing this at least a year or so back. Erik mentioned it being best for the MAX line and compared it to a title like The Punisher. Benito Gallego? Robin Recht? How about they commission a frontispiece or double page spread from concept artist Ganbat Badamkhand?
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Post by kemp on Feb 22, 2020 9:48:10 GMT -5
I agree that the new SSOC ahould be turned into a more mature oriented MAX book. Even though I have enjoyed some of the new Conan stories, not to mention the fun Savage Avengers title, I feel that Marvel is having a bit of a hard time pleasing all the fans. Fact is, they will never have the more juvenile readership and mature age audiences liking the same stuff so why not lean towards the more mature market. Let's face facts, we had a better deal back in the 20th century, if anything, being older, we are even harder to please, so why not cater to us since we are the ones devouring most of the stuff. From a marketing point of view it makes perfect sense.
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Post by ascalante on Feb 26, 2020 21:17:45 GMT -5
CtB #1-12 was a waste of my money and time. The story dragged on so long I just stopped caring.
I got some enjoyment out of SSoC #7-11, but wouldn't read them again second time.
As a long time Conan fan, I find the Marvel reboot disappointing. The crossovers are not appealing to me.
It seems likely 2020 will be better; it's really hard to imagine they could do worse than 2019.
Sorry for such a bleak assessment. I'm still hoping for an REH worthy Conan to be represented in any medium!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2020 22:56:11 GMT -5
That's a pretty good assessment of the last year, Ascalente.
I really do hope the comics get better this year.
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Post by wolfshead on Feb 26, 2020 23:11:22 GMT -5
It'll be hard to do worse than the Belit series
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Post by darklordbob on Feb 27, 2020 6:53:45 GMT -5
It'll be hard to do worse than the Belit series I am quite certain they will make a concerted effort to exceed your expectations in that regard.
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Post by boot on Mar 1, 2020 11:57:11 GMT -5
I buy the trades, so I'm behind the discussion. I don't follow it so that I don't see spoilers.
Right now, I've got Age of Conan: Valeria, which I just finished. Age of Conan: Belit, which I've thumbed through, and I couldn't believe how bad the art is in that book. And, Savage Sword of Conan: Conan The Gambler, which I've started but have little interest in finishing (I will finish the book--it's just hasn't grabbed me).
What the hell is going on? Dark Horse had its ups and downs, but there were a hell of a lot more ups. What Marvel is giving us looks like the end of a series run, when it is petering out.
This is crap!
Poor art. Uninteresting stories. It seems the writers and/or artists are unfamiliar with the Hyborian Age.
What the hell?
I'd much rather read Dynamite's Red Sonja. I've got a lot of those to get through.
Edit: But, hey, fear not! The idiotic cross-overs are doing well! Conan as an Avenger. Serpent War Crap.
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Post by wulfhere on Mar 1, 2020 14:24:36 GMT -5
Regarding the unfamiliarity with the Hyborian age I think they probably don't care. Just another superhero reboot to them.
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Post by boot on Mar 1, 2020 16:26:45 GMT -5
Regarding the unfamiliarity with the Hyborian age I think they probably don't care. Just another superhero reboot to them. The Aquilonian troops in Valeria looked like Cimmerian savages. Loin cloths. Bare chested.
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Post by boboldman on Mar 15, 2020 23:26:38 GMT -5
I’m currently reading the Belit mini series, and it is a chore to get thru. The art is bad and the writer has no clue about... anything really. Completely awful!
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Post by Jason Aiken on Jun 30, 2020 21:32:47 GMT -5
Since I caught up on Savage Sword of Conan, I'll weight in on that book.
Basically as I said before this was a real shame that they didn't live up to the legendary reputation of this title.
It's only fair to rate this book by story line, I think.
#1-5 were pretty bad, the story wasn't very good, but Garney's art was decent enough. Hell, it even looked better in black & white. They should have shortened this and published this just in black & white to make it stand out. Score: 2/5
#6 - This was pretty damn good, great art by Luke Ross and a readable story by Meredith Finch. The fact that this is a sequel to the Conan Comics Classic, Night of the Dark God (itself a Conaninzation of "The Dark Man") didn't hurt. This easily the best stand-alone issue of the bunch. Score: 3/5
#7-9 - This is probably the best original Conan story we got across both titles. It was three issues, fairly well illustrated, and I enjoyed the story line. Jim Zub and Patrick Zircher can come back on Conan any time. I loved the panel where Conan is emerging from the darkness covered in gore. That's Conan. 4/5
#10-11 - Roy Thomas and Alan Davis kind of show everyone how Conan comics are supposed to be done. This story didn't blow me away, but it was exactly what I want when I sit down to read a Conan comic. Some of Thomas' dialogue was a bit dated in technique, telling while showing, etc... but he told a solid s&s tale and even set up "People of the Black Circle." Modern comic writers needs to study his dialogue (minus the outdated showing and telling) and text boxes to see how S&S comics are supposed to be written. A job well-done. Alan Davis also did a good job, this was the first time I saw him illustrate something that wasn't a superhero comic and he did great. 4/5
#12 - Bring Andrea Di Vito back immediately! He's fantastic. This is exactly how I want a Conan comic to look. I was really hoping Marvel would use foreign artists like this and give them a chance to shine... But keep Frank Tieri away, unless they get Roy Thomas to edit him. This guy has no feel for Conan, the Hyborian Age, or dialogue. 2/5
#6-11 are definitely readable Conan pastiche, but that first arc's writing was bad and the last issue's writing was horrendous.
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Post by bunty0barbarian on Aug 11, 2020 13:42:52 GMT -5
I've just finished Jason Aaron's run on Conan, feeling mixed about it. The one-off stories were good but the overarching one was boring and lame. Better than Bruce Jones, Michael Fleisher, and JM Matteries, but not on the same level as Roy Thomas and Christopher Priest. Savage Sword was very good. Jim Zub's and Roy Thomas's arcs were great as was Meredith Finch's story. I also enjoyed Duggan's opening story, it was much better in Black & White.
The highlight of Marvel's Conan for me, was Esad Ribic's Exodus. The art was gorgeous, and the story, while nothing new, was well told. I heard Ribic was planning to do more these. Is it true?
Also Jim Zub's story arc, "Into the Crucible" is it six issues? I've enjoyed Zub's work the best, and I'm planning to download it on Kindle.
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