Conan the Barbarian #31 review

The battle prowess of Conan the Barbarian is the stuff of legend. Time and time again, he has gone up against foes of incredible power, overcoming each challenge no matter how seemingly impossible with naught but the strength of his body and a will as unyielding as his steel. However, as he crosses blades against the fearsome assassin known as the Son of the Tooth, he may finally have met his match. Is this the end for the Cimmerian?

*Mild spoilers ahead for Conan the Barbarian #31*

A brutal conflict engulfs the nocturnal streets of Khoraja. On one side of it stands a warrior from the north, his eyes fierce and determined, his powerful form unmistakable. On the other is a mysterious assassin from the Hyrkanian Steppes in the distant east, his black attire and ghostly white face the picture of death. So ferocious is their battle that it seems to turn the darkened alleyway into a war zone, drawing the fear and indignation of those nearby. 

At first the pair appear to be evenly matched, neither holding a clear advantage over the other. That quickly changes, though, when the Son of the Tooth kills a city guard who tries to put an end to the violence. What at first appears to be a wasteful death that served only to lose the assassin one of his weapons quickly proves to be something more. As Conan watches in shock, the Son of the Tooth absorbs the spirit of the unfortunate guard, gaining newfound strength from the heinous act. Strength that he quickly puts to use against his bewildered foe. 

Their battle only continues to grow increasingly one-sided, as the Son of the Tooth devours further murdered souls, each one fueling his body until it’s all Conan can do to avoid a death that feels increasingly imminent. His foe seems unstoppable, and though Conan is not one to run from a battle or admit defeat easily, he is not so arrogant as to fail to recognize the futility of attempting to match his own waning strength against such a force. To survive will take all of his skill; to win will take nothing short of a miracle.

Having spent the last two issues building up to this showdown, Zub does not disappoint now that it’s here. From the moment the issue opens, we’re thrust into a brutal battle that refuses to hold anything back. The Son of the Tooth is a relentless foe, one who quickly gains the advantage and keeps Conan on the ropes for much of the issue. It's rare to see such a thing, but thanks to the groundwork laid by Zub over the previous two issues, it feels expected rather than cheap, giving us an enemy that feels like a legitimate threat. 

Adding to the brutality displayed across issue 31’s pages is the artwork by Doug Braithwaite. The detail his illustrations provide allows us to feel every bit of the fight, from the physical exertion of both combatants, to Conan’s growing desperation and the assassin’s fervent determination and ruthlessness. Conan’s exhaustion is clear without a word needed, the growing weariness of his body becomes progressively more evident in every panel. 

And then there are the connections to a greater story beyond. 

Over the course of his time writing Conan, Jim Zub has teased the threat of the Woeful Eye. Most recently, it was the force that drove King Numedides mad during Conan’s adventures in Aquilonia, as well as shown as a greater looming threat at the end of his Scourge of the Serpent crossover series. While it's difficult to place this particular issue in the timeline of Zub and Titan’s growing Howardverse due to the way Zub presents the various story arcs, it does seem that we are drawing closer to a confrontation between the Cimmerian and the Lovecraftian menace lurking in the darkness (especially if the Battle of the Black Stone and Scourge of the Serpent crossovers are any indication). 

For now, however, we’re left with an epic conclusion to a three-issue arc that pitted Conan against a foe more than capable of matching him. Where Zub will take the story from here only time will tell, though it seems big things are on the horizon for the Barbarian. 

Conan the Barbarian #31 is available now from Titan Comics.