Conan the Barbarian, legendary Cimmerian warrior of the Hyborian Age, was born on a battlefield as the son of a blacksmith, and quickly rose to prominence as a warrior of renown amongst his people even before he set off into the world to face its challenges. His renown has only grown over the course of his travels, pitting him against all manner of foe, both mortal and supernatural. To stand against a force such as him would be an incredible feat, one few are capable of. But now, from the wastes of the Hyrkanian Steppes, rises one who might just prove to be a match for the Barbarian. He is called the Son of the Tooth, and this is his story.
*Mild spoilers ahead for Conan the Barbarian #29*
Who is this great foe that stands to be a match for the legendary Cimmerian? A great warrior trained from birth in the art of combat? An ancient force whose power can topple entire ages? The answer is neither, at least not directly. Born as the eleventh child of a tribe leader in the Hyrkanian Steppes, none would have believed this child whose name has been long lost to the ages would one day become someone who could threaten a warrior as great as Conan. The child was sickly and weak, so much so that few believed he would reach manhood. He could neither hunt nor fight, and his nights were consumed by terrible visions that would leave him screaming inconsolably. Visions that would often follow him into the waking world, more like a presence than a mere dream, a presence foretelling of a time when nightmare and reality would become one.
As is often the case in stories such as these, however, the boy's father gave little thought to his son's nightmares, instead focusing on his own frustrations with the boy's frailty. Having accepted his son could neither hunt nor fight as was expected of him, the father gave the boy one final chance to prove useful to the tribe, with the understanding that if he failed at this final thing, then he would be left behind when the tribe moved on. In this task, however, the boy finally found not only success, but a sense of purpose, which in turn brought him a calm he had never experienced before.
And then he killed his eldest brother, setting off on a blood-soaked path to his destiny.
I love a good origin story, especially when concerning an antagonist meant to rival a protagonist as renowned as Conan. When done well, it serves to not only justify why a character is such a threat without simply being a matter of plot convenience, but also to ensure said character doesn't simply come across as a one-dimensional villain of the week. Typically, I've seen these types of villain-backstory centric issues released after the villain has already been introduced, perhaps even after they've already been established as a formidable opponent, in order to add depth and context to the conflict.
Here, however, I think Jim Zub made the right call to tell us who this character was before showing him coming up against Conan. Not only because it allows readers to go into the upcoming conflict with knowledge that would otherwise require Zub to take us out of the story for a moment to disclose, but also because he presents the origin in such a way that even though we have a sense of who the character was, we don't yet know who he is. We see the actions of the boy, but know not the skills of the man chosen to become an assassin of the Woeful Eye. This balance of understanding and mystery only serves to add fuel to the excitement for what's to come.
The Son of the Tooth's origin is further complemented by the artwork from Doug Braithwaite. The subtle changes to the boy's demeanor as he sets off on his bloody path add so much, showing his transformation from a sickly child feeble not just in body but in heart thanks to his limitations, into one steadily growing stronger and more confident in himself. His eyes grow harder where once they were subservient and apologetic. His body looks more capable where once it seemed capable of little beyond simply existing. These changes build slowly as he continues down his path, giving a sense of genuine progression.
This progression is mirrored by the depictions of the boy's parents, particularly his father. The lines of his face grow deeper, shifting from the hardness of a father frustrated with his son's frailty to the weariness of one burdened by a truth he cannot deny forever, try though he might. This is evident nowhere better than during a scene of honesty between him and his son. Faint lines of tears flow down his face, and his exhaustion is fully displayed as he accepts the truth at last. The boy's mother, though featured less in the story than his father, likewise serves to showcase his transformation from sickly son into something horrific. When last we see her, there's a hardness in her eyes as she looks upon him, as if he is some vile thing rather than her son. It's subtle, but it speaks volumes.
If this issue is a preview of what we can expect from this new story arc, then we're in for an exciting ride. It does a fantastic job of building this new antagonist up as someone who can truly challenge Conan physically while also establishing that there is more to him than simply a skilled warrior. His connection to the Woeful Eye is particularly interesting, as Zub has been building up to this otherworldly menace for some time now across multiple storylines, including the recent Scourge of the Serpent crossover miniseries and its predecessor, Battle of the Black Stone. Could this new arc carry us into that impending conflict? Or is it simply one more step in that direction? Only time will tell, but either way, it promises to be an exciting, action-packed tale.
Conan the Barbarian #29 is available now from Titan Comics.
