Conan and the People of the Black Circle #3 Review


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We’ve reached the third outing for this high adventure opus, but is there enough here to still warrant your attention? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dark Horse:

Desperate soldiers, ruthless mercenaries, vengeance-crazed tribesmen, and evil sorcerers—they’re all out for Conan’s blood! After the Black Seers of Yimsha seize Queen Yasmina and withdraw to their mountain fortress, will the Cimmerian be able to reclaim the woman that he himself has taken hostage?

Conan and the People of the Black Circle 3_CAs we reach the penultimate chapter, the creative team dazzles their audience with a piece of fiction that excels in just enough ways to impress. This may not be a completely perfect endeavor, but what we’re given is something that, as a whole, should be marveled at. From the first page to the final panel this is a tale fit for a warrior that’s survived decades of fandom and re-interpretation.

Fred Van Lente pens the script and I have to say the scribe certainly puts his best food forward, with a body of text that encapsulates all the best features involved with Conan. What works best is the to the point dialogue, as a strong verbal cadence keeps us squarely in the past as this saga reaches some bloodily satisfying sequences. The pacing is the only downfall, as a sea of subtext and narration bogs it down to a crawl during some minor moments that just don’t feel necessary. With that said, this has still become one of my favorite mini-series as this author does our brutal protagonist justice.

The art by Ariel Olivetti is once again a painted stunner that makes the price of admission more than worthwhile. As I opened the book I quickly flipped through it and looked upon the images of the narrative as they did nothing more than garner my praise. They’re sturdy and consistent as this endless talent delivers yet another array of panels that are sure to please even the most discerning fanboy or fangirl.

Conan and the People of the Black Circle #3 is, in my mind, an entry that would make Robert E. Howard proud. Highly recommended.

4.5/5

fourhalfstar

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