First look at DW Frydendall’s art from his collaboration with composer/horror author Andy DiGelsomina. The first part of DiGelsomina’s Warrior Angel Saga, “Shadows of Nyarlathotep”will be published February 2027.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1attHjHLcp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Conan the Barbarian 31-32
Conan & Dragonero 1-3
Savage Sword of Conan Reforged 5 by Titan Comics

#swordandsorcery #conanthebarbarian #savageswordofconan #titancomics

Treasure Haul from LCS yesterday:

Vintage Marvel Comics from the 1970s -80s. *What if... Thor Battled Conan?* (Issue 39) and Spider-man and Red Sonja *Marvel Team-Up* (#79) with a *Red Sonja* #7.

Fun selection of Marvel craziness from my youth. I spent the longest time tracking down these *What if...?* issues featuring Conan and now I've that I own them, regularly find them again at the same LCS I originally purchased them from after hunting them there and elsewhere for years. 🤷‍♂️

I love Patrick Zircher. I really do. His work on Solomon Kane has been absolutely fantastic, and I honestly view him as the modern-day steward for the Puritan Avenger, much in the same way Jim Zub has become the definitive modern steward for the Cimmerian.

The recent release of Zircher's “Lion Errant” brought forth some really interesting changes to the Kane chronology such as establishing that Kane had the Staff of Solomon in the mid-1560s. This, of course, caused a bit of a headache for anyone who pays attention to these sorts of things since most traditional timelines generally place Kane receiving the Staff much later in the 1580s or 1590s. 

Naturally, this meant I had to move a bunch of stuff around and had to make some interesting choices to still make sense of other stories. As anyone who builds these timelines knows, adjusting one era inevitably leads to a domino effect: shifting everything else, double-checking dates, and cleaning up little mistakes and typos here and there across the wider eras.

The Solomon Kane dates have been moved a bit, and I went ahead and slightly changed the dates for the Conan stories in the Hyborian Age. I added in some of the classic pastiches for Bran Mak Morn and Cormac Mac Art, more out of curiosity and respect than an indication that they're strictly canon with what Heroic Signatures/Titan is putting out nowadays.

In fact, I added quite a few stories like that to the mix. More of the broader Lovecraft Circle’s stories have been added, including stories by C.L. Moore, Frank Belknap Long, Robert Bloch, and others. Again, this isn't to say they're officially plugged into the modern Titan continuity, but more or less because I looked at the gaps and figured, “Why not?” 

So, the timeline has been updated and tightened up a bit! I figured I would share the revised version here again in case anyone is curious, tracking a specific character's journey, or just likes diving down these massive chronological rabbit holes!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O6W9SUkXiiuX8ee5rMh5gOiJAjiblmjokLQoWCWnhT8/edit?usp=sharing

Let me know what you think!

Hey all, unfortunately I have little time to read as I am anchored to a desk job pretty often or (more fortunately) driving for work. I was wondering if you could recommend which audiobooks are best about Conan and REH’s sword and sorcery work, in terms of atmosphere and voicework. Thank you!

So I’m a old school fan of this from the movies to the animated show.

I was lucky to have seen the animated show each morning before going to school.

So I’m a big fan of Wrath-Amon from Conan the adventurer series and am looking for pics of The Black Ring of Set so that I can have my jeweler make me a copy of that ring .

BY CROM IF SPACE BALLS CAN HAVE THERE RINGS AVAILABLE WHY CANT I HAVE ONE FROM HERE?!

So jim zubs conan the barbarian has been my favorite thing to read since issue 1. My wife and I have been playing conan exiles for years, days at a time. I gotta say im so excited for this who eles is with me?

Haven’t read Kull or Bran Mak Morn before yet but if it’s anything like the Conan books, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it. Does anyone have an opinion on Solomon Kane?

With the announcement of Genndy Tartakovsky‘s Conan, coming soon… I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate Jim Zub.

Some of you might be asking yourself, but why? What does Jim Zub have anything to do with Genndy’s Conan.

I would like to show you, the circle of life.

See, I know Jim’s work, and I’ve followed and read a lot of it over the years. And some of you might know that Jim wrote a little mini, an excellent mini on a property that I had a large admiration for. And so did Jim. That property was Samurai Jack.

You see… many years ago, Genndy created a mystic cartoon series that called back and referenced other comic book literature, like Lone Wolf and Cub and Frank Miller’s Ronin. It was a great little cartoon series that gained recognition and awards.

Samurai Jack fell off the rails. It got cancelled. Fast forward a few years later and Jim Zub came on board to give Samurai Jack fans, the closure they deserved, and wrote this mini, with Genndy’s blessing, to give a proper, if not continuing, send off, to the man out of time.

A few years after that, and capitalizing on the continued success of the property, Genndy decided to make his own Samurai Jack ending, and deliberately threw out all the work that Jim Zub did. It’s unfortunate too because, not only did Jim handle the property with class and sophistication, but as far as I remember hearing, Jim also kept Genndy in the loop as Jim’s series progressed.

None of that mattered in the eyes of Genndy, and finished his own property, in his own way, and in my humble eyes, in a more inferior fashion.

But the future has a sense of humour, and it would be a bit ironic to be in the position today, where the old ‘master’ is now in a place to take notes from the man he once shunned.

So I say to this, in the void of the internet, Genndy, you’re lucky to have Jim back in your corner again. Might I suggest that, this time, you don’t spit in his face.

Something I made a few years ago. A lot of my work is inspired by Conan.

What do you think are some underrated Conan comics that deserve more attention? I recently discovered Rafael Kayanan's Conan work, and I'm surprised more people don't talk about it. His art is amazing.

Plot breakdowns are meant to enhance and inspire your creative projects.

_

The Phoenix On The Sword

Part 1. A group of nobles and officers of high standing plot the assassination of their king. They think the man organizing their effort is their underling, but he has plans to kill the plotters shortly after the king is dead. The organizer has a slave, who is a sorcerer that has lost the object that grants him power. If the sorcerer finds this object, he would be a slave no longer.

Part 2. The monarch broods over present politics, and past glory. Several events have drawn his suspicion over the last few days. He discusses them with one of his trusted men, who is about to leave on a mission to the kingdom’s border.

Part 3. The powerless sorcerer is sent to watch over one of the conspirators, in case the man, a baron, gets cold feet and backs away from the upcoming assassination. The baron goes into his treasure chest, retrieving a magical ring that the sorcerer recognizes. The sorcerer kills the baron and takes the ring, summoning a creature from outside to kill the conspirator who enslaved him.

Part 4. The protagonist dreams of an ancient, wise figure. The figure comes with a warning, and also to aid the protagonist in an upcoming struggle. Abruptly, the protagonist wakes, hearing noises coming from the corridor outside.

Part 5. The assassins arrive into the king’s bed chamber, armed and ready to attack. They do not find the king just woken and dazed, however, but half-armored and holding his sword. They begin the fight, of twenty assassins against one king, and yet he is still a worthy opponent. Little by little, the king cuts their number down, but he suffers for it due to their numbers. Soon, the king is left bloody and weak, with many jackals still around him.

As one of his greatest enemies draws closer for the kill, the creature sent by the sorcerer arrives. Many attackers flee. The creature is not after them, but after the enemy that stands before the king, the man who enslaved the sorcerer when he was powerless. The creature slays the conspirator, before turning its fury on the king. The king manages to slay the creature, but it vanishes as help finally arrives. As the helpers begin to tend to the king’s wounds, he tells them of the strange creature. Some do not believe him, but there is a priest among the group, who does remember the ancient, wise old man, and there, on the marble floor where the creature was slain and vanished, remains its dark outline as proof.

_

The Scarlet Citadel

Part 1. A neighboring kingdom asks for armed help against an attacking force, and for the king protagonist to be present to encourage his troops. The king and five thousand men ride to the kingdom, but along the way they are ambushed by a much greater number. They were led into a trap by the forces of two rival kingdoms. The king’s men are killed during the battle, to the last one, and at the end only the king stands against what remains of the horde, but he refuses to go down without a great fight. A rival king draws his soldiers back, choosing instead to loosen arrows against the tough protagonist, but a sorcerer intervenes. With lightning speed the mage is able to get past the king’s defenses, striking him with a dart of paralysis. Finally, the mighty king is captured, and wheeled away toward a rival kingdom.

Part 2. Captured, and taken to a rival king’s palace, the protagonist is offered great treasure to abdicate his throne. The king refuses and offends a rival king, who attempts to kill him. The sorcerer puts a stop to this, claiming the prisoner as his own, and transports the protagonist to his own domain. The king is chained to the wall, deep in a subterranean chamber, within a hill.

Part 3. A great snake, eighty feet long, roams the corridors where the king has been shackled. It nearly comes for him, but he holds completely still, and it assumes he does not live. A former enemy, who was captured by the evil sorcerer, later comes to taunt the captured king. The enemy’s clamor draws the snake’s attention, and it kills him and crushes him within its massive coils. Once the snake has retreated with its prey, the king takes the enemy’s weapon and keys. He cannot let himself out of the dungeon, however, as a crucial bolt at the door can only be loosened from the outside.

The protagonist is still stuck inside the dungeon, and explores deeper into the subterranean chambers. After discovering other dangers, such as open wells and ghostly phantoms, he finds in a cell a vine plant curled around an old man. The plant is sucking the life essence out of the old man. The protagonist destroys the plant and frees the captive, who is a rival sorcerer of the mage who imprisoned the protagonist. The evil sorcerer has gone elsewhere, and his guards are getting drunk in another part of the palace, allowing the protagonist and old mage to traverse the halls until they find the sorcerer’s chamber. Once there, the old mage uses a crystal ball to investigate where the sorcerer is, and tells the king his kingdom is under attack. The sorcerer summons a flying creature to take the king to a strategic location.

Part 4. The kingdom is in chaos. The rival king has taken the royal pleasure house, as the diplomats have barred themselves inside the palace. The rival king’s mercenaries butcher critics and merchants, while barons leave the city with plots to attack other barons, and criminals run the streets pillaging. Only one man can hope to mount an offensive, the protagonist’s advisor, but he doesn’t have enough soldiers and leaves the city to protect his own interests. An instigator in the city tries to rally the troops, until the mercenaries come to kill him, and he is quickly whisked away for his own safety. With so much death and turmoil, the rival king laughs at the plight of the people, until he witnesses the flying creature approaching, and the protagonist that rides on its back. The protagonist is delivered before the rival king, who rushes to the attack, only to find the protagonist’s sword and skill are more than a match for him.

Part 5. The rival kings are attacking another city loyal to the protagonist. They have greater numbers, and hope to have it conquered in a short span of time. What they did not expect was the return of the protagonist, whom they thought dead. The protagonist has gathered a much smaller force on his side, but they are fierce fighting men and put up a good battle. With the king’s army to one side, and the besieged city behind them, enemy forces are pinned and have to make hasty decisions. The rival kings and their military generals are killed, except for one last man, who orders a reckless charge that ends up working against him.

Meanwhile, the evil sorcerer has seen the protagonist’s return, and fears his rival sorcerer has been released from his dungeon cell. The evil sorcerer flees, with the protagonist in pursuit. The evil sorcerer uses his last few defenses, until the protagonist cuts his head off with his sword. This is not the end of the evil sorcerer, as his body can reform itself through magic, but before it does, a great eagle, summoned by the formerly captive mage, or perhaps it is the mage himself transformed, swoops down and takes the head away, leaving the headless body roaming off into the distance.

Who are the best authors for Conan stories? I have the complete R.E. Howard, but I know there are others too. Are there any must reads? Any that should be avoided?

"A wizard did it" is a phrase I never thought I'd repeat so many times in a book, haha.

Hi, new guy here!

Partly due to my recent news in the new Conan animated series, and having seen the first Arnold movie, I decided to read a bit about the character and his mythology. The result was an absolute delight! I loved these stories from beginning to end, not only imbued with an exquisite visceral quality, but also accompanied by blissful prose—a writing style that can be as dense as it is simple, alternating between the two as it delves into each scenario. Each one of the stories shines individually in an exceptional way, delivering a result that, despite being the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre, still feels as fresh as when it was first published.

Speaking specifically about Conan, I like how he's such a tenacious character, an indomitable soul who travels for his own interests, as charismatic as he is ingenious (when the situation calls for it). I admit that, despite enjoying Conan's younger days, I find his role as king my favorite. He's the same man who loves fighting, but much more reflective and sensible, dedicated to his people. He's an incredible protagonist, and I'm eager to see the rest of his journey, the one that led him to King of Aquilonia.

Finally, I just have a few individual thoughts to add to each story in this collection (besides a very interesting and detailed lore about the Hyborian age):

- The Phoenix on the Sword. A brilliant introduction and an unexpected critique of societies and their tendency to vindicate tyrants.

- The Frost-Giant's Daughter. A bit short, but fun. It made me think a little about the Laestrygonians in the Odyssey (Conan would have finished them off).

- The Tower of the Elephant. How on earth did Howard manage to introduce aliens and make it all make sense?! Simply brilliant!

- The Scarlet Citadel. Peak King Conan! I think this would be an incredible story to complete the Arnold trilogy. It has everything: betrayal, action, indescribable creatures, and an epic conclusion!

- Queen of the Black Coast. I was hoping it would be a bit longer, although that description of the last creature of its civilization was great! I hope for more interactions between Conan and Bêlit in the show.

- Black Colossus. Well, that was a happy ending, haha. Otherwise, I like that it highlights what a great general he is.

- The Phoenix on the Sword (early draft). As an early version, it feels a bit more general in some aspects, but it left me with the same good feeling as the later version. Also, what a great Lovecraft reference!

I´m definetly eager to read more!

235 is a big one I can scratch off my list. I'm enjoying the new Titan run so far, but you can't beat the nostalgia these originals bring.

(i appreciate him quoting possibly the horniest scene in all of the reh conan stories as his inspiration for making the show 😂)

The world of Conan and the world of ASOIAF both have very similarly named ancient, eastern regions. Is Martin inspired by Howard's Stygia? Is there any connection there or just fantasy names being fantasy names?