View Full Version : And hey, how about Conan?
machineman
10/09/2004, 04:54
I'm surprised by the lack of any talk about this seriously good re-vamp. Cary Nord is perfectly suited for this series and you can tell he did his homework. He even pays careful homage to all of the great Conan illustrators of the past. You can see the Buscema/Chan savage snarls along with the Frazetta inspired group brawls and viceral sword play. Busiek's adaptations are, as always, on par with all the greats of old. And I can't help but love the "Know this, oh Prince..." lead ins. I always wondered who was saying that and who he was telling it to. So if there are any other fans of this book -, lets hear it. I'd especially like to hear the opinions of any of you younger readers, who never followed the old marvel series or the R E. Howard and the other novelists' stories.
If I were to buy this book, Cary Nord would be the reason.
I like Conan well enough, but find I get bored over extended periods.
I actually preferred King Kull. I felt he was a much deeper character. But then having only read the comics for both I could be wrong.
machineman
10/14/2004, 22:05
If you can get ahold of a friends copies to check-out the first story arc, you should. It is far beyond excellent. The writing is a great blend of the novels and graphic novel forms. And yes Nord is above excellence on this book.
Bluebeard
10/14/2004, 22:16
I'm buying Conan right now, but the same thing happened that happened with JSA. With JSA I started buying the books starting with issue 47 (I believe) which was the second part of the Black Reign arc. I didn't want to start reading it until I was able to get issue 46. Around issue... 59-60, I FINALLY got the beginning of Black Reign, and began reading some of the best stories in my collection.
With Conan, I missed the first issue, and while it's been reprinted I'm a sucker for a first printing. So while I have all the books so far except #1, I'm not going to start reading them until I get that first printing of #1. (Which really isn't that difficult to get, it's all over eBay, I'm just lazy.) It sounds like it's an excellent book though.
It pleases me mightily.
Favourite moment so far:
Conan avenges himself on traitors in a town square. When
some official tries to make something of it he responds,
THESE MEN WERE COWARDS AND TRAITORS WHO SOLD THEIR OWN
PEOPLE INTO SLAVERY AND DEATH. THEY DESERVED THEIR DEATHS,
AND ANY WHO STAND WITH THEM DESERVE DEATH AS WELL.
NOW. I speak LITTLE Brythunian. WHAT did you say?
-- Conan, Conan # 7, Dark Horse.
The official decided not to press the matter.
One of the best books out there right now. Really, really diggin' it.
Big fan of the little strip at the end featuring Howard's true life adventures.
CarlosMucha
10/14/2004, 23:49
I really want a Conan Clx!
machineman
10/15/2004, 00:23
Bluebeard, don't forget to get the #0 preview as well, if you don't already have it. It sets the tone for the whole series.
Bluebeard
10/15/2004, 00:32
Oh yeah, the #0 was great! That's what convinced me to buy the series blindly without reading it yet :grin: I'll definitally re-read it once I get that #1. Thanks for the heads up though!
Maniac_nmt
10/16/2004, 23:27
The book is really good stuff right now. The writing is top notch, and the art is probably the best in any book on the market.
Also if you dig Conan, all the classic marvel stories are currently being reprinted. While the art isn't as stellar as the new series, it's still a good place to get your Conan fix (and depending on which one you get, you might just recognize the tale of the Frost Giants Daughter).
John Buscema is one of the greatest artists of all time. You just have o realize that back then they new thir art was being printed on one grade above toilet paper. Hence no reason to pen in detail that would get lost anyway.
There have been some art books collecting Buscema's work, and they are well worth your time.
He was also the illustrator for How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way, and many many early issues of Avengers and Thor.
He was part of Stan Lee's preferrred trio of artists. The other two being Jack Kirby and John Romita Sr.
All three of those guys were drawing three to four books a month as well, while being paid in peanuts. And on time I might add. Bryan Hitch could take a lesson here.
Lucky for us they were fanatic about comics.
Maniac_nmt
10/19/2004, 17:31
Didn't say it was bad. The coloring in the Graphic Novel reprints is actually pretty amazing for the time. It's just not up to Nord's work. It can be for any number of reasons, but I just enjoy Nord's stuff better.
Although, I do prefer Buscema's work to Barry Windsor Smith's work (who was the previous artist). Smith's Conan is more effeminate and slender then Buscema's barbarian.
machineman
10/20/2004, 01:16
too bad we didn't have just the pencils for BWS's conan stuff, you'd probably like it a whole lot better than you do. He is simply amazing. I'm not positive his stuff then was as beautiful as it is now, but if it was, we've missed out on something.
CaptChip
10/20/2004, 01:33
Been reading the new Conan, and loving every panel of it. Busiek and Nord are worthy of this noble inheritance!
Also, picked up the first trade of the Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor-Smith reprints. Excellent reading, as well. That's the Conan I loved as a kid...
... No clix yet, so I guess I'll find my old Mego Conan... :)
CC
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