Titan Comics; Free

When Titan Comics debuted their new Conan The Barbarian series on Free Comic Book Day 2023, no one knew what to expect. After all, a lot of very good artists – and a handful of all-time greats – have turned their talents to the adventures of Conan The Barbarian, but the specter of the late John Buscema hangs over all of them. It takes nothing away from the likes of Barry Windsor-Smith or Cary Nord to say that for the majority of the character’s comic book history, Buscema’s rendering of Conan set the standard.

Titan’s Free Comic Book Day offering, Conan The Barbarian FCBD, was the first Conan story produced under their new license, which in the years leading up to this moved from Dark Horse to Marvel (its previous home of many years) before arriving at Titan. In the two years since, they’ve not only taken on this color comics title, but they’ve also revived The Savage Sword of Conan as a black and white magazine, produced omnibus editions of the original material, and reintroduced some of Robert E. Howard’s other creations (notably Solomon Kane).

We knew none of that, though, when this one hit comic shops. What we knew immediately, though, was this issue showed tons of potential. It set the stage for what could be an epic run by writer Jim Zub, one that has these months later put him in the upper echelon of Conan comic book writers.

To take nothing away from Zub, Roberto De La Torre’s art is turned a casual read into a superb experience for me. He brilliantly captured the John Buscema style without aping the late master. Longtime fans will feel right at home, and newcomers will find the storytelling highly accessible.

This FCBD issue did its job. I’ve been on board ever since.

– J.C. Vaughn