Conan: The Barbarian - The Original Series (Marvel)

[irondavith]

Mar 12, 2024 23:15:41 GMT -5 danieljames495 said:

Mar 11, 2024 11:18:22 GMT -5 irondavith said:

Very enjoyable Johnny, just the kind of content I'm looking for. I also re-listened to your Chronology episodes recently as well. I'm currently working my way through the original marvel years CTB, interspersed with SSOC issues as they fit in to the timeline. I'd like to use the map I ordered as well but it still hasn't arrived

You've probably read them, but just in case - the Barbarian Life books by Roy Thomas are great for accompanying the CTB run. I'm off on holiday next week so will get through at least a few more issues backed up with Roy's notes.

The Dark Horse run - I'm halfway through now, and I just finished the Horror Beneath The Stones Epic Collection. They're without doubt the worst Conan comics I've ever read.

Dark Horse started pretty strongly with Busiek IMO, and the Nord art is some of the best I've ever seen. Love it. Truman was decent as well, and this epic collection started with Thomas (not his best, but not terrible either) but the Wood/Cloonan stuff is awful.

I'd read it was polarising but I went in with an open mind (and secretly hoped to like it) but it's shocking. The art makes Conan look skinny and weak. I don't mind a slimmer, pantherish Conan at all (like BWS's), but not one with the lower legs of a gazelle. And some of the writing... 'Conan desperately needed her love and assurances...' or whatever it was - are we still reading about the same barbarian? Such tripe.

I really want to finish the Dark Horse stuff, but if it's more of the same then I think I'll just skip it.

Just ordered the TBP of the new Titan work, looking forward to it based on the mostly favourable stuff I've read on this forum!

Once you finish the Wood/Cloonan run (which I think is the lowest point off the Dark Horse run), Fred Van Lente's writing is actually pretty good imo. The art is still kinda iffy in Conan the Avenger. By the time you get to Conan the slayer, both the art and writing gets back on track. It's a shame they couldn't finish that run.

That's very good to hear, thanks. I won't be offering up any unread Epic Collections for sale just yet then 😅. Shame the art doesn't do it justice by the sound though, and definitely a shame about the story line not being finished!

[irondavith]

In complete contrast to the Dark Horse Queen run, the Original Marvel Years Queen run is a great read. And some of the art with Buscema and Chan working together, particularly issues 74-77, is just incredible. I'm enjoying it a lot.

[hun]

Overview/review of the 1st volume of CtB by Omnidog: