Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian #25 explores the past, present and future of the savage warrior through bombastic stories by an elite team of creators.
With nearly 90 years of stories to his name, Conan the Barbarian is one of the most iconic fantasy characters to ever lift a sword. Created by Robert E. Howard and brought to comics in 1970, the savage hero has taken on many beasts in his time — be they monster or publication rights. In 2019, Conan returned to Marvel and the publisher revitalized him with an exciting new series. Now, Conan the Barbarian #25 ends the book on a high note, celebrating 300 issues of the legacy title with a host of creators that represent Conan’s past, present and future in a manner befitting a king.
Conan the Barbarian #25 is divided into four adventures that span the heroes history. The first of these is “Until Our Stories End” by Jim Zub, Cory Smith, Roberto Poggi, Israel Silva and Travis Lanham. This team, which has been tackling Conan for the last year, end their run by bringing Bêlit into the series for the first time, as Conan and his lover face off against versions of Conan from across time. Zub clearly has fun here and understands how to use high concepts without losing sight of the fantasy setting. For their part, Smith is an efficient storyteller and Poggi’s sharp, defined inks enhance the weight of the action. Silva’s colors further distinguish the scenes, with an early double-page splash standing out as a particular highlight. While it would have been nice to see this team tell a story that was more directly connected to their run, this is a classic standalone adventure that tackles the themes of the series well.
Next is “A Civilized Man” by Larry Hama, Paul Davidson and Neeraj Menon. Hama is an iconic writer whose work on G.I. Joe shaped the franchise. Here, Hama gets a chance to return to another of his definitive works, having previously written dozens of Conan stories throughout the ’80s. “A Civilized Man” is straightforward, as the Cimmerian takes on a troupe of Vikings in a fight to the death. Davidson’s art is sensational, with each of Conan’s enemies dying in increasingly gruesome ways. Menon compliments Davidson well, draping the action in muted hues that create a bold contrast against the warriors’ blood. This art team seems tailor-made for Conan and it would be great to see them return for larger adventure down the line.
After the brutality of the previous two stories, “Night of Oblivion” by Dan Slott, Marcos Martin and Muntsa Vicente is a welcome change of pace. The six-page tale shows the barbarian stumbling through increasingly dangerous foes while he himself is incredibly drunk. It’s refreshing to see Conan presented with this sense of whimsy, something that often eludes the hero. The Fantastic Four writer takes a back-seat to Martin’s art, presenting the narrative without dialogue. This is a true testament to Martin’s storytelling skills, as everything moves fluidly and effortlessly. The dynamic color palette that Vicente uses helps endear everything with a unique charm, as details like the splashes of blood and Conan’s drunken haze pop out in vibrant ways.
Lastly, Christopher Priest, Roberto De La Torre and Java Tartaglia present “Black Orchid.” This story is set during the bleakest moments of Conan’s life, as the now-aged barbarian fights against the Devourer of Souls at the end of his days, only to find that his own stubborn will won’t let him die. It is a fitting end to the issue, and seeing Conan in his golden years fighting against death itself just feels right. Letterer Travis Lanham, who handles the entire issue, really shines here. The sound effect of Conan’s sword dragging along the floor is eerie and creates a tangible feeling when read, and the distinct lettering style of the Devourer of Souls makes him feel otherworldly. Lanham has done an incredible job across Conan the Barbarian, and this may be his best work yet.
Overall, Conan the Barbarian #25 is an effective end to the current Conan series. The issue uses creators from Conan’s past, present and future to represent the epic history of the character in stunning fashion. It delivers all the blood and spectacle that fans have come to love from the past 300 issues of Conan the Barbarian, with a wealth of character work that should entice readers to stick around for the next 300 as well.
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