Every comic book fan has felt it at least once. The fervent desire to check out a new comic book series only to become discouraged when you realize how far in the story already is. Do you take the chance and hope you can pick up on what’s going on in the current issue without too much difficulty? Or do you set the book aside, deciding perhaps instead to stick with your usual books rather than try to read a backlog of issues you may not even be able to easily get your hands on? If you’re feeling that exact way about Jim Zub’s run on Titan’s Conan the Barbarian then you may just be in luck as Titan Comics has now released the collected editions of Zub’s first three arcs in a single box set!
Follow the fabled Barbarian as he leaves his homeland to pursue his wanderlust, a quest that will entangle him in an ancient mystery that could spell doom for him and the entire world. Each story is packed full of the type of action that you would expect from a Conan book, but don’t think for a second that they have nothing more to stand on than action and a famous name. Zub’s stories are intricate and interesting, with elements from one bleeding into another in ways not necessarily expected. Some plot points are still finding their way into issues several arcs on, though I’ll refrain from disclosing more than that so as to not spoil anything for newcomers.
In addition to the three graphic novels —each collecting a four issue arc—, the box set includes three exclusive art cards depicting the cover art for each book. While these don’t necessarily add anything to the stories themselves, they’re a neat addition and look great on my bookshelf. I do wish they’d chosen to include more to showcase some of the variant covers, but I’m certainly not one to complain about a little something extra being included with my comics.
Whether you’re a Conan fan looking to dive into some new stories or just a fantasy and comic lover wanting to see what the hype is about, this box set is a great way to get your foot in the door. Especially since Jim Zub shows no signs of slowing down on his work with the legendary Cimmerian.
Conan the Barbarian: the Graphic Novel Collection Volumes 1-3 is available now from Titan Comics.
