Comics I Bought This Week: August 6, 2011
August 6, 2011
I’m back from the comic shop this week and I got eight new comics:
And now for a review of something I’ve read recently.
“Conan Volume 9: Free Companions” By Tim Truman, Joe Kubert, and Tomas Giorello
This book has been sitting on my shelf for a little while. I already bought volume 10 by the time I got around to reading this volume. Now I wonder why I let it sit so long since it was real good. These Tim Truman written Conan stories have really been hitting their stride.
This volume takes place after Conan has helped a queen save her kingdom and he is a general in charge of her army. But of course courtly life doesn’t suit Conan and he craves action. The first couple of issues in this volume deal with Conan and the politics of the court but then it turns dark.
It becomes a different Conan story then I’ve read before because it is about Conan screwing up badly. It’s one of those stories that gives you the end first so I’m not revealing anything much by saying that Conan gets the men he leads, the “Free Companions” of the volume’s title killed. All five thousand of them.
It’s rare to read a story in which the main character screws up so badly especially a Conan story but it’s a well done tale. I could empathize with Conan as I usually can’t. He’s sad and mad that his captains and friends who he lead are now gone. His friend Amalric built up the force of hired swords over many years and Conan got them killed fairly quickly. It’s a bit of a sad tale.
The art in the book is excellent as the first story is by Joe Kubert and then Tim Truman draws some himself plus we get some nice Tomas Giorello artwork. It’s good art across the board with no weak spots and all of the coloring is also well done.
I’ve enjoyed all of the Dark Horse Conan volumes but these last two have been especially strong. If you haven’t checked out Conan lately then you should. They’re good.
Discussion ¬