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Post by MRPs_Missives on Jan 4, 2024 11:51:45 GMT -5
(...) Writer, Jim Zub, introduces Brissa, a highborn Hyborian heroine descended from a noble Pictish house or hut or hovel. How can a Hyborian highborn be descended from anyone but Hyborian nobles? What is a Pictish noble, for that matter? I'll wait to read the issue before forming an opinion, but I'm very prickly about how Conan writers handle Howard's concepts!  I don't know if noble is the right phrase for what Zub is doing here. She is descended from the line of Brule, the rest I'll let you read. -M |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jan 4, 2024 13:53:15 GMT -5
How can a Hyborian highborn be descended from anyone but Hyborian nobles? What is a Pictish noble, for that matter? I'll wait to read the issue before forming an opinion, but I'm very prickly about how Conan writers handle Howard's concepts! I don't know if noble is the right phrase for what Zub is doing here. She is descended from the line of Brule, the rest I'll let you read. Fair enough, as that's also the case for Bran Mak Morn. That would however make her a Pict, not a Hyborian. (Yes, I suppose that Hyborian and Picts might have babies together, but I doubt such offspring would be highly regarded by either side). I look forward to that first TPB seeing print! |
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Post by MRPs_Missives on Jan 22, 2024 12:39:34 GMT -5
By Crom!, Today is the anniversary of the birth of Robert E. Howard, born January 22, 1906. Good day to read some Conan in honor of that!  -M |
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Post by MRPs_Missives on Feb 9, 2024 13:49:23 GMT -5
For those waiting on the trade, it releases next week (2/13). Here's trailer Titan did for the tpb...
I'm looking forward to picking up the trade to reread the first arc again (I'll take any excuse to reread this stuff, I like it that much).
-M
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Post by MRPs_Missives on Feb 15, 2024 23:13:42 GMT -5
Pat Zircher posted this after receiving his comp copy of the new Savage Sword of Conan #1... so it looks like fans of the classic SSOC (like Roquefort Raider) and those clamoring for comics on newsprint again might have something to look forward to. here's some preview pics from that copy...     -M |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Feb 16, 2024 6:51:48 GMT -5
That looks good!
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Post by MRPs_Missives on Mar 1, 2024 15:03:51 GMT -5
Roy Thomas mentioned in his introduction to the first issue of the new Savage Sword that he will be writing a story for the series at some point, but no details of what issue. The series is only set to run 6 bi-monthly issues initially, but it could continue if sales are good enough (sales on the Conan comic have exceeded expectations, but the magazine size format (and black and white) is a tough sell with some retailers so they're not assuming anything about how SSOC will do. I'd guess somewhere in issues 4-6 would be the best bet for Roy's story to appear based on lead time needed and such, but that's just speculation on my part.
-M
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Post by MRPs_Missives on May 9, 2024 13:12:16 GMT -5
Titan and Heroic Signatures is offering a free PDF download of the Conan FCBD issue Battle of the Black Stone here-M |
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2024 21:17:52 GMT -5
Titan and Heroic Signatures is offering a free PDF download of the Conan FCBD issue Battle of the Black Stone here-M In addition to my physical copy, I downloaded it through Comixology/Amazon. |
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Post by MRPs_Missives on Jun 4, 2024 15:45:27 GMT -5
So Titan announced at the British comic retailer expo tis past weekend that the Conan the Barbarian series has been their best selling title ever. IT has surpassed overall sales for its previous series the Gun Honey books, in far fewer issues and in far less time than that title took to achieve its numbers.
-M
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jun 4, 2024 20:04:32 GMT -5
I wonder if that's more that it was doing at Marvel? The book is certainly better, but that rarely translates to significant sales.. be nice if it did for a change.
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Post by MRPs_Missives on Jun 4, 2024 20:53:26 GMT -5
I wonder if that's more that it was doing at Marvel? The book is certainly better, but that rarely translates to significant sales.. be nice if it did for a change. Initial orders for #1 exceeded 100K, and Zub has said orders increased for #2 and #3. I haven't seen numbers since, so I don't know if it maintained that growth, stabilized, or fell, but those initial numbers were much better than it was selling at Marvel. -M |
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Post by MRPs_Missives on Jun 7, 2024 13:31:09 GMT -5
Interesting interview with Jeffrey Shanks (archeologist and Conan historian) by Stygian Dogs covering his essays in the back matter of the current Conan project, his side gig as a Conan consultant, his day job as an archeologist-including doing an excavation at the Howard house in Cross Plains under the auspices of the National Park Services, his upcoming short story in Savage Sword #4, Howard Days, the REHUPA and more.
One of my favorite parts was Shanks discussing the movement of REH purists. He was part of that movement when it started, and it was an attempt to get the original Howard versions of the stories into print and to be free of the shadow of de Camp, but he also talks about how now that this has been accomplished, it should be ok for people to have fun and play in Howard's sandbox, to do new pastiche, or to revisit and enjoy older pastiches and different interpretations of Howard's material, especially if the exploration goes beyond just Conan because we do have the Howard originals now and nothing can take them away, and those that love them can still steer people to the originals in addition to the pastiche and adaptations. It no longer needs to be a binary proposition, whereas in the past, when the originals were not available and the goal was to make them available, it had been necessary to make a clear distinction between the two and put all the spotlight on the Howard originals to accomplish their goals.
-M
PS Stygian Dogs is a youtube channel well worth checking out for fans of REH or Conan.
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Post by MRPs_Missives on Jun 7, 2024 22:45:03 GMT -5
Also of note, the annual Howard Days festival in Cross Plains Texas is taking place this weekend. Zub's Conan comics took home some awards form the Howard Foundation there this year.
-M
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jun 12, 2024 9:48:59 GMT -5
my favorite parts was Shanks discussing the movement of REH purists. He was part of that movement when it started, and it was an attempt to get the original Howard versions of the stories into print and to be free of the shadow of de Camp, but he also talks about how now that this has been accomplished, it should be ok for people to have fun and play in Howard's sandbox, to do new pastiche, or to revisit and enjoy older pastiches and different interpretations of Howard's material, especially if the exploration goes beyond just Conan because we do have the Howard originals now and nothing can take them away, and those that love them can still steer people to the originals in addition to the pastiche and adaptations. It no longer needs to be a binary proposition, whereas in the past, when the originals were not available and the goal was to make them available, it had been necessary to make a clear distinction between the two and put all the spotlight on the Howard originals to accomplish their goals. That's a sensible attitude. If we can have stories featuring Jesus Christ, I don't see why Conan should be any more untouchable. I was a bit peeved by the attitude of certain so-called purists at times. Many seemed incapable of saying anything remotely nice about L. Sprague de Camp, not even that "Lest Darkness Fall" was pretty enjoyable or that the conanization of certain crusader tales had worked out well. Some would also be irate when a comic-book adaptation didn't stick to the exact description of a random item. I understand that they were feeling protective of Howard's literary legacy, but my reaction was often "come on, guys... let it go..." And I realize that I say that while simultaneously complaining about Zingarans swearing by Ishtar in Marvel comics. |
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