Robert E. Howard's Savage Sword #5 Advance Review

More Comics
Robert E. Howard's Savage Sword #5 Advance Review
By Andy Frisk
August 11, 2012 - 23:55

Dark Horse Comics
Writer(s): Ian Edington, Steve Niles, Howard Chaykin, Paul Tobin, Roy Thomas
Penciller(s): David Wenzel, Howard Chaykin, Chris Mitten, Richard Pace, Francesco Francavilla
Colourist(s): Moose Baumann, Michelle Madsen, Jesus Aburto, Jim Campbell
Letterer(s): Richard Starkings and Comicraft
$7.99 US

Comprised of five stories, two of which are first parts of a series, Robert E. Howard's Savage Sword #5 delivers on its 80 page and $7.99 format. The first tale, "Bran Mak Morn: Men of the Shadows Part One" tells the story of a Roman Legion north of Hadrian's Wall that has been whittled down to five surviving Roman soldiers battling hordes of Picts, the "last of the the stone age people...stunted dwarfs whose day had passed." The second tale "In the Forest of Villefere" stars a traveler in the dark woods who meets a werewolf, but who the prey is isn't exactly clear. The Howard Chaykin written and drawn "King Conan: Two Birds..." weaves a tale of feminine wiles, courtly intrigue, and the value of experience over youth. "Dark Agnes" tells the story of a little known Robert E. Howard creation, but possibly one of his most interesting. In "Kings of the Night," a classic interpretation of Robert E. Howard's fanciful tale of the war against the Romans lead by a time displaced King Kull and Bran Mak Morn and told by Roy Thomas, the epic (albeit fictional) story of the route of Roman forces in northern Britain is related.

Featuring a great assembly of wide ranging stories starring some of Howard's greatest creations, including Conan the Barbarian as Conan the King, Robert E. Howard's Savage Sword #5 is a worthy offering of action packed stories about life on the battlefield and in the courts of intrigue. Even though it contains no less than 5 different stories, some of them are really too short. This is most likely because of the full inclusion of the reprinted interpretation of "Kings of Night" which takes up a good deal of space. Howard Chaykin's "King Conan: Two Birds..." and "Dark Agnes" as interpreted by Paul Tobin are the two stand out tales. Luckily, future readers of Robert E. Howard's Savage Sword will be treated to more "Dark Agnes," but Chaykin's story is a one shot. More Chaykin written Conan would be great though as "King Conan: Two Birds..." edges out "Dark Agnes" just slightly in storytelling and art as the best of the bunch.

Dark Horse Comics is currently publishing some of the best comics ever to showcase re-interpreted and original tales starring Howard's classic characters. Along with Conan the Barbarian by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan, Robert E. Howard's Savage Sword is one of the best of the bunch.

Rating: 8/10