We’re beyond the half-way point, but is this really turning into a worthy extension of this barbaric franchise?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Dark Horse:

Betrayed, deposed, and in hiding, Conan rides for his old capital of Tarantia with bloody vengeance in his heart—but the devious wizard Xaltotun has spies in the sky and soldiers on the ground. The solitary barbarian is forced to seek counsel from an unlikely ally . . . who has a few beastly servants of her own!

There’s no way to short change this fact: when I started covering this mini-series for Unleash The Fanboy I was more than a bit underwhelmed by it. But as I flip through this latest issue I can say that the creative team successfully turned things around, in my view, as they deliver something that they should be proud of.

When I first read the work turned in by Timothy Truman I found his tale to be structurally sound, but having a jaunt told by an aged king felt a bit lackluster. To the author’s credit he was quick to use that aspect of the narrative as an asset in order to give the audience a rare but unique opportunity to see the world through his eyes.  From the first page on I was thoroughly impressed with the cadence and consistent hand brought forth in even the most simplistic scenarios. The dialogue is strong, slightly corny but like the plot it’s well thought out.

Tomás Giorello handles the art and I have to say this talent continues to excel even as the hour of this adventure grows late.  I found the majority of the work to be appealing as thick and thin lives gave way to a unique vision of the world that fit within this storied franchise.  His chaotic illustrations are simply brought to life in a refined way that makes even a sit down with a witch interesting.

King Conan: The Hour of the Dragon #4 is nothing less than a superb outing, that sends this saga toward what should be an engaging penultimate issue. Highly recommended.

4.5/5