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Colossal Conan (The)
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- Published: 12-14-2013, 11:20 AM
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Colossal Conan, The
Published by: Dark Horse Comics
Released on: Nov. 20, 2013
Writers: Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza, Mike Mignola, Timothy Truman, Paul Lee
Artists: Cary Nord, Tom Mandrake, John Severin, Bruce Timm, Timothy Truman, Eric Powell, Paul Lee, Rafael Kayanan, Tomas Giorello, Greg Ruth
Cover: Mark Schultz
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At the end of 2003, Dark Horse Comics launched the beginning of a brand new Conan series, titled simply Conan, with a #0 sampler practically given away at comic shops. Writer Kurt Busiek and artist Cary Nord spawned what would evolve to a fifty-issue series (plus the #0 book), telling of Conan's early years as a thief and a hero-for-hire, as he travelled the world to learn of the ways of civilized men. In his travels he fights all manner of man and creature, from wizards and demons, to wolves and the dirt bags that prey on the people in the streets. The whole series is told as if it is history of the past, as being conveyed to a prince by his advisor, who has been reading of the barbarian king's exploits from the dusty writings of men ages ago.
During its run Busiek did the bulk of the writing just as Cary Nord did the bulk of the illustrations. The two creators adapted a number of Robert E. Howard stories: “The Frost Giant's Daughterâ€, “The God in the Bowlâ€, and “The Tower of the Elephantâ€. Another tale written by Busiek, “Born on the Battlefieldâ€, runs sporadically throughout the series, always with artwork by Greg Ruth. Other contributors to the series adapted “The Hall of the Deadâ€, “Rogues In the Houseâ€, and “The Hand of Nergalâ€. A nice treat within the pages is a story about Conan's helm, illustrated by comic legend John Severin.
Busiek's writing makes for some of the best Conan comic books ever published. He humanizes Conan in such a way that no matter how much of a dick Conan is to someone, you can't help but still want to be exactly like him. He adds a comedic element to the material as well as to Conan himself at times, and that approach to the character helped breath new and much needed life to Howard's barbarian comic book adaptations. Conan has valor, bravery, and amazing fighting skills, but he also has a mischievous side. And he's a womanizing horn-dog too boot. Busiek does a great job of capturing Conan's essence and making for a much more pleasant read than some of the old Marvel stuff by working in some of the more “every-man†components that tend to get overlooked. He stays true to Conan's character, but makes him that much more of a kick-ass Cimmerian.
Cary Nord…in reading the forward by Kurt Busiek, it is mentioned that the pencils went to the colorist without inks, something not common at the time, and that technique makes Nord stand out from the crowd. Great detail without being too busy, awesome beasts, LOTS of graphic violence (someone should count how many decapitations the series has), and Conan looking like he never stops working out. His beautiful pencils with outstanding colors by Dave Stewart (also for most of the series) give the book a look and style that deserves to be copied over and over again. Cary Nord's artwork has done for Dark Horse's Conan what John Buscema's artwork did for Marvel's Conan.
Covers are reprinted within pages at the start of each issue, with artwork by Joseph Michael Linsner, Greg Ruth, Leinil Francis Yu, Cary Nord, Ladronn, Tony Harris, Richard Isanove, Paul Lee, and Tomas Giorello. A couple of variant covers were used for issue #1 but those are not included. Also not included are the covers for the seven collections published throughout the years covering the issues in this volume. This is not a complaint, but an observation, as it would be nice to have had those included. Also as an extra, the previously mentioned forward by Kurt Busiek starts the book, and it ends with an afterward by Timothy Truman, who wrote most of the material not handled by Busiek.
This mammoth 1200+ page book is essential Conan reading. From start to finish, its one beautiful page after another of Robert E. Howard's world, executed by one of the best teams ever to work with his creation.
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