Monday, September 28, 2009

Conan the Cimmerian #14

Yesterday I mentioned that I have a short list of artists that I admire enough that I'll buy any comic they draw.

This issue of Conan of Cimmeria features two others who are on that list - Joe Kubert and Tim Truman.

I guess we shouldn't be surprised to see these two working together, since Truman was a graduate of Kubert's School, and both are from the rough-and-tumble, no nonsense, incredibly talented side of the artistic fence.

This "done in one" issue features a framing sequence by Kubert that's just terrific. This may be his first attempt at Conan, although he may have drawn a cover or a pin-up or two along the way.

Needless to say, his work is amazing, and it's always a treat to see the master at work. His sequence shows Conan enjoying some "down time," as he goes hunting to escape the boredom of the castle. He remembers his hard life in Cimmeria, and that leads us to the issue's other story, about a deadly menace still walking the hills of Conan's homeland, and how his tribe deals with the challenge.

That section is drawn by Truman, who also wrote the issue, and as I've said before, he was born for this kind of story. The action is raw, violent, but it has heart (uh, as in an emotional connection to the characters).

If you're not reading this series, you're missing out on the best Howard adaptation ever. And that's saying something!

Grade: A-

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