Mathieu Gabella, et.al., The Cimmerian, Volume 4. Portland, OR: Ablaze Comics, 2022. ISBN: 9781684970377.
Genre: graphic novels and comics
Subgenre: fantasy, adventure, literary adaptation
Format: e-book galley
Source: NetGalley.
In "Beyond the Black River," Conan is working as a mercenary soldier in an outpost. He sees all the signs that the Pict tribes are restless and uniting against the ruler employing Conan. A young man joins the army, but soon he has to rush back to save his family from the invasion with Conan's help. This is a good story where see Conan's ingenuity and guile to overcome obstacles.
In "Hour of the Dragon," three power hungry men awaken an ancient sorcerer using the Heart of Ahriman. They want the sorcerer to help them become rulers of the world. Conan by now has become king of Aquilonia, and his kingdom is one of the men's targets. He loses his kingdom, but you can't keep Conan down nor discount him. Soon the barbarian is on a quest to get his kingdom back and defeat the sorcerer and the threat the sorcerer represents. This is a tale of high adventure. Conan will need his strength, his wits, and his allies to get his kingdom back and save the world. It is a longer tale, but it offers a fast reading pace. It feels a bit like an epic adventure fantasy film, especially in this adaptation.
Like other volumes in the series, this volume includes the original text of Howard's short stories. I appreciate that element; you can read the original sources and see how well the comics did the adaptation. In addition, the volume includes a cover gallery and a section of extras like early art sketches.
If you are a fan of the Conan stories, you'll enjoy these adaptations where we get Conan wild, uncensored, and smart. The stories are fast paced. The art is well suited to the stories and in full color. The art is a good reason to read these volumes.
Overall, this continues to be a great series. I highly recommend it for libraries with graphic novel collections. I would add this one to my personal library.
5 out of 5 stars.
This book qualifies for the following reading challenge:
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