The Savage Sword of Conan #1 (2024) / Z-View

Savage Sword of Conan #1 is out and it is a winner.

It features five covers to choose from.  I selected the one with art by Gerardo Zaffino (shown above).  Other cover-featured artists include Joe Jusko (two versions), Mac von Fafner and Douglas Klauba.

Roy Thomas provides an introduction, Savage Tales of Savage Swords.
Sacrifice in the Sand is a prose tale by Jim Zub.
Solomon Kane, An Essay by Jeffrey Shanks explores the history and influences of Solomon Kane.

Pinups included are: Conan by Roberto De La Torre, Belit b Rebeca Puebla, Conan and the Road Kings by Gerado Zaffino with a poem by Robert E. Howard and Solomon Kane by Howard Chaykin.

The issue features a full-length Conan story, Conan and the Dragon Horde by John Arcudi (writer) and Max von Fafner (artist).  Conan has agreed to lead an army of “mercenaries and hangers-on who have a greater thirst for gold than for combat.”  Their goal is to reclaim a city for a deposed king.  The kicker is the city rests on a gold mine and all warriors will share equally in the spoils.  Expect the unexpected, giant warrior twins, prehistoric beasts, crosses and double-crosses, a beautiful warrior woman and plenty of Conan doing what Conan does.  I wasn’t familiar with von Fafner’s art prior to this, but he is an artist I’ll watch for.

The second story features Solomon Kane in Master of the Hunt, Part One by writer/artist Patrick Zircher.  Solomon Kane becomes involved in a search for a missing man and his son.  Fear abounds that an ancient beast is on the prowl.  Most folks know Zircher as an accomplished artist, but since he’s added writer to his resume the title needs to become accomplished writer/artist.  I want to give kudos to Zircher for making his background characters interesting.  They may not have dialogue, but you can tell what they’re thinking from body language and facial expressions.  I look forward to Part Two.

Savage Sword of Conan #1 (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.