|
|
Post by Roquefort Raider on Apr 14, 2015 19:44:35 GMT -5
I've just finished the collected six first issues of Dark Horse's Conan the avenger, a new title continuing the adventures of the Cimmerian in chronological order. And I'm glad to report that it's a massive improvement over the "Conan the barbarian" series that preceded it, and that dealt with the adaptation and expansion of the story The queen of the Black Coast.
Fred van Lente, whose work I had already enjoyed on the miniseries The people of the Black circle, shows in those six issues that his first success wasn't a dud: he can write a fine, fine, Conan story. A few scenes in this first collection (titled Conan volume 17: Shadows over Kush) sent a shiver down my spine.
I'm looking really looking forward to the next book, something that hadn't happened since... oh, volume 10, "Iron shadows in the moon".
edit: I did find the Doctor Strange "cameo" annoying.It was an unnecessary distraction.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2015 0:14:30 GMT -5
I've just finished the collected six first issues of Dark Horse's Conan the avenger, a new title continuing the adventures of the Cimmerian in chronological order. And I'm glad to report that it's a massive improvement over the "Conan the barbarian" series that preceded it, and that dealt with the adaptation and expansion of the story The queen of the Black Coast. Fred van Lente, whose work I had already enjoyed on the miniseries The people of the Black circle, shows in those six issues that his first success wasn't a dud: he can write a fine, fine, Conan story. A few scenes in this first collection (titled Conan volume 17: Shadows over Kush) sent a shiver down my spine. I'm looking really looking forward to the next book, something that hadn't happened since... oh, volume 10, "Iron shadows in the moon". I was a little miffed that DH couldn't line up an artist who could do the whole arc, having switched halfway through because the first artist was only available for 3 issues, after I felt they did a bait and switch selling the last series with Cloonan art then having her leave after 3 issues. I thought Van Lente was ok, definitely a step up from Wood's Conan, but not enough that I wanted to keep buying it each month. I have a ton of better Conan stories in back issues that I haven't gotten to yet, and I just felt if I was going to read some Conan comics I would be better served making my way through those than spending more money on a mediocre Conan comic with a rotating artist that I may or may not like. Add to it that I was at the point of giving up new comics altogether and Avenger just didn't make the cut to keep reading or to add to the small list of stuff I will buy in trade. I just haven't really liked anything DH has done with Conan much at all since Cimmerian ended, except for the Giorello drawn King Conan minis. -M |
|
|
|
Post by coke & comics on Apr 15, 2015 0:54:28 GMT -5
I also wish the art had stayed consistent. I actually quite enjoyed the Wood/Cloonan issues of the Queen of the Black Coast saga (maybe I'm the only one?) but think it fell a lot, in particular because of artistic inconsistency. I really liked how they laid out the original Busiek issues with Nord, and telling a story set in the past drawn by Ruth when he needed a break.
I'm excited for the Van Lente issues. I've been a fan of his since Action Philosophers!
|
|
|
|
Post by Roquefort Raider on Apr 16, 2015 5:10:18 GMT -5
I also wish the art had stayed consistent. I actually quite enjoyed the Wood/Cloonan issues of the Queen of the Black Coast saga (maybe I'm the only one?) but think it fell a lot, in particular because of artistic inconsistency. I really liked how they laid out the original Busiek issues with Nord, and telling a story set in the past drawn by Ruth when he needed a break. I'm excited for the Van Lente issues. I've been a fan of his since Action Philosophers! I liked Cloonan's work on the title as well. Wood on the other hand, who I expected to knock it out of the ballpark on account of his excellent Northlanders series, managed to make me drop the series. Bad characterization, nonsensical plot at times, horrendous mishandling of the Hyborian Age backdrop... they all reminded me too much of the mid 80s Marvel Conan. Beyond using Howard's concepts properly, Van Lente surprised me by a certain very brutal plot twist (I don't want to spoil it here) and by making Conan an engaging character again. One of the Cimmerian's character traits is that he's a guy others are eager to follow; not one who constantly wallows in self-doubt*. Conan's handling of his "bastards" in the Kush story arc was a nice demonstration of true leadership, and I can't help contrast it with his uncharacteristic despair while he was jailed in Argos in the early days if the Wood run. (I also read the final issues of Wood's run, and it hadn't improved, as far as I'm concerned). * I hasten to say that I do not mind a writer who explores Conan's motivations and philosophy. My favorite Conan scene ever was written by Kurt Busiek, and has the character make fun of philosophers who are engaged in talking about celestial subjects... but deciding to stay and listen "just for a while longer". Great material, where we learn a lot about how this rough and tumble barbarian is fascinated by things he does not understand, which explains his lifelong wanderlust and his ability to pick up new languages and adopt new lines of work. It also shows how he'd still pretend not to care about intellectual issues, being perhaps more sensitive to what others think of him than he lets on. Conan as a pure nihilist doesn't work at all for me. |
|
