Zub Tales

The second issue of the relaunched Conan the Barbarian comic series from Heroic Signatures and Titan Comics arrived in comic shops last week. What did reviewers think of Bound In Black Stone Part 2? Read on and find out-

• Big Comic Page: “Smartly showing the titular character to be so much more than just a big man wielding a hefty sword”

• ComicBook.com: “Jim Zub, Roberto De La Torre, Dean White, and Richard Starkings have a vision for Titan’s Conan the Barbarian series, and as long as they’re enacting it, I’ll be reading. If you’re a sword and sorcery fan, grab the first two issues of Titan’s Conan the Barbarian and thank me later.”

• Comic Book Dispatch: 8.4/10 ” Conan’s mane, mien, and muscles convey a majesty that bespeaks his Marvel years. Brissa belongs at Conan’s side. The eyes of the undead glow, and their jaws drop open when they spot their quarry. Battles sing as steel sweeps through the air”

• Comic Book Philosophers: “I frickin’ love this book. I’m not typically a sword and sorcery or Conan fan but two issues in, I’m engaged, I’m enthralled. Jim Zub knows exactly what he’s doing with this character and this world.”

• Comic Book University: “This book is absurdly good…Great art, incredible story, fantastic plot, great character interactions, and a story that’s a page turner like a mo-fo.”

• Comic Crusaders: 10/10 “This is an absolute recommendation as Conan the Barbarian fully delivers for comic book fans!”

• Comical Opinions: 9.5/10 “Conan the Barbarian #2 delivers brooding, powerful drama, passion, and violence in equal measure to signal Conan’s return to form. The mystery surrounding the Lost Tribe continues to build intrigue, Conan’s character and the atmosphere surrounding him are spot-on, and the art is perfect.”

• Comicon.com: 10/10 “I thought it would be a cold day in the pits of the damned before I was delighted by Conan’s work more than the Dark Horse books delighted me, but this team is conjuring up some powerful visuals that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the fan favorites of yesteryear.”

• Cosmic Times: “I cannot say enough good things about the art and story in this new Conan comic!”

• Cuantica Grafica (Spanish): “De la Torre visually develops his barbarian, who comes to life on each page he creates, transmitting everything that the Cimmerian means and providing a resounding and colossal sense of graphic narrative in these precious pages.”

• European Lore: “I have enjoyed each and every single page of this comic book and the ending is exactly what we want from a Conan the Barbarian comic book…100% recommend!”

• Evil’s Comics: “I am loving this book – the way it’s written, the way it’s drawn, the lettering, the coloring.”

• Gary B the Casual Comic Guy: “This feels like the perfect mesh between Conan the Barbarian from the ’70’s and the Savage Sword of Conan…a perfect storm of a team on this book.”

• Grimdark Magazine: “This consistency with the classic artwork is appreciated. While the characters and fight scenes take center stage, De La Torre’s art also does a quietly effective job showcasing the rugged wilderness of Cimmeria.”

• Hither Came Conan: “The first one was great but this took it up to a new level. It just has me even more excited to see what happens next…This is everything that I’ve wanted in a Conan book.”

• Is This Just Fantasy?: “Another great issue! No complaints as far as the art is concerned. It’s as exciting as it’s ever been. Jim Zub keeps it interesting and I want to keep reading.”

• League of Comic Geeks: “it just feels so perfectly crafted on so many levels. All the elements work together beautifully to create the finished piece. Great pacing of the story, I didn’t feel bored for one minute, in spite of there being some potentially slow parts of the plot. “

• Major Spoilers: 9/10 “OMG. This art is fantastic…I loved this book! I thought it was a lot of fun and I thought the story was interesting. I’m glad Titan Comics isn’t holding back.”

• Negromancer: “Jim Zub has composed the best-written Conan comic book that I have read in probably a decade…At this rate, de la Torre will soon be in the pantheon of great Conan comic book artists and storytellers right next to Buscema, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Tómas Giorello, to name a few.”

• Pop Culture Maven: “The biggest win for this issue is that it really feels like Conan, and that’s the key.”

• Rich Review: 8/10 “Conan is one of the fiercest fighters you are ever likely to see.
This issue has it all – a warrior, a woman of beauty and skill, a threat that endangers anyone who comes near it.”

• Rough Edges: “Jim Zub’s script is very good, striking a perfect balance between dialogue and captions…Rob de la Torre’s art continues to be fantastic. His storytelling and attention to detail are excellent.”

• Scifi Pulse: “Roberto De la Torre continues to deliver stunning visuals for this second issue…A solid second issue that leaves you wanting more.”

• Scoop: “another sterling read, one that reminds of how great not only Conan comics, but comics in general can be. The storytelling is several notches (or perhaps light years) beyond many comics on the market today.”

• Set The Tape: 10/10 “issue #2 builds on and develops a very solid base into a comic that is a genuine page turner as you join our heroes trying to find out what’s happening now and what will happen next. As this series picks up speed, it really is almost thrilling waiting for the next instalment.”

• Stygian Dogs: “Its sensuality, the gore, the intense blast of the supernatural and the promise of future mystery, this story is wonderful and thoroughly satisfying…There is so much of quality in this book.”

• Superpowered Fancast: 9.4/10 “Zub crafts a brilliantly bloody and engaging adventure in this issue. The story is filled with suspense, thrills and world building that makes the plight of the characters more compelling. De La Torre offers some breathtaking and stunning art throughout the issue. The visuals are perfect for this character and deliver you into his world with style.”

• Tennessee Fats: “Art-wise, fantastic. Writing-wise, this one really showcases some of the strengths within the artist and in the writer as an individual carrying the story forward to you.”

• Thinking Critical: “If you love unfiltered Conan. If you love people fighting. If you love a human being at their bare essence…this issue packed one hell of a punch.”

• Todd Luck: “It just really hits you in the face that this is what Conan should look like, and it’s really fantastic.”

• Unscripted & Unchained: “From the storytelling, to the writing itself, the characterization of both Conan and Brissa, and the tone of it is very reminiscent of Savage Sword of Conan more so than the Conan comic series and it’s a real refreshing thing to see.”

• Wakazashi’s Teahouse: 8.5/10 “It’s storytelling with an edge, a kick, a bit of sensuality and sexuality as well as this intriguing mystery. That’s what I want. “

• We Have Issues: “I love this new creative direction…The art is perfectly suited for this kind of story.”