Graphic Novel Reviews: The Cimmerian Volume 1

Robert E Howard, an author in the 1930’s, created an iconic character that persists to this day: Conan the Barbarian. Originally published as short stories, these have expanded into many forms including some feature films, and more importantly, comics. Though the character has a current run going in Marvel Comics, Ablaze Comics has published a wonderful hardcover with fully uncensored Conan material that closely follows Howard’s stories, even going as far as to include the texts themselves for the two short stories contained within.

The first tale, “Queen of the Black Coast”, has Conan joining a ship crew after running from authorities in a city where he got in trouble for his more barbaric nature. During an attack from Belit, the aforementioned “Queen”, Conan submits to his baser natures and upgrades. Belit and Conan have a fierce and passionate love. That hunger pushes them to attempt to raid an abandoned city on a poisoned river.

The second story, “Red Nails”, teams Conan up with a fellow hunter named Valeria, who have a strong sexual tension, yet do not express as blatantly as he and Belit. Fighting a “dragon” in the woods, our companions come across a huge city contained in one building, like a giant temple or palace. Living inside are the remnants of a tribal war that still continues on. Conan and Valeria, both working mercenaries, try to sort out the war while dealing with ghosts and magic hidden around corners and in plain sight.

THE CIMMERIAN VOLUME 1 is a well written and illustrated attempt at bringing the raw energy and content of Howard’s short stories to life. Very adult in nature, both for nudity and violence, this story shows why Conan is truly the Barbarian we have come to know him as.