Conan the Barbarian #9 Advanced Review

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Conan the Barbarian #9 Advanced Review
By Andy Frisk
October 7, 2012 - 15:43

Dark Horse Comics
Writer(s): Brian Wood
Penciller(s): Vasilis Lolos
Inker(s): Vasilis Lolos
Colourist(s): Dave Stewart
Letterer(s): Richard Starkings and COMICRAFT
Cover Artist(s): Massimo Carnevale
$3.50 US

Belit and Conan are reunited after a brief separation so that Conan could get a head start on the search for the man who is plaguing his home country of Cimmeria under Conan's name. Finally, the mad murderer is confronted and Conan learns his identity. It is someone with close ties to Conan...someone who makes Conan realize that he is as much to fault for the death and destruction as the man who carried it out.

Brian Wood's Conan the Barbarian is a godsend to those of us who still miss his late Northlanders series from DC Comics' Vertigo imprint. "Border Fury Part 3" reads, flows, and packs as much of a powerful and emotional punch as any of the story arc chapters of Northlanders did. Wood weaves important commentary and themes into his works, and does so with a sense of unparalleled realism (even in a dark fantasy comic like Conan the Barbarian).

Vasilis Lolos (who has penciled his last issue of Conan the Barbarian for Dark Horse Comics for the time being) brings his unique artistic style to full bear here on the last chapter of "Border Fury." Lolos' art is highly reminiscent of long time Wood collaborator Becky Cloonan, and those two's works go together like no one elses. It takes a special kind of artist to work up to the level of Wood's storytelling and Lolos does effortlessly.

I don't know how long Brian Wood is going to be writing Conan the Barbarian for Dark Horse Comics. Hopefully, it will be for years and years, but if it isn't...read and savor this book now. Conan's stories have never been told better...ever.

Rating: 10/10