Conan & Dragonero – Volume 01 Issue 06

My Rating

“Part VI: The Demon From Tarantia – Chapter One”

Conan and Dragonero have reached the ancient steps of the Ivory Dome of Kuthchemes. Somewhere within these crumbling ruins lie the magical Gems of Tarantia. Both warriors can feel the radiant energies emanating from the precious stones, but where in Crom’s name are they? Hidden among the ruins to the west, or locked away somewhere deep within the ancient mausoleum? There appears to be no doorway leading into the inner sanctum. What manner of sorcery is this?

It matters little!

A blood-curdling roar suddenly echoes from the top of the weathered staircase. Both warriors draw their weapons and take cover. Something monstrous lurks above them. A hulking beast, three times the size of an ordinary man, rages in a state of uncontrollable madness. Its enormous frame twists with unnatural strength as it bellows another deafening challenge. Whatever this abomination once was, it has become something far more terrifying.

Dragonero peers closer at the monstrous figure. Wait! What is that dangling from the creature’s neck? A strand of precious stones, glowing with an unmistakable magical energy. By the gods! Those are the Gems of Tarantia!

The thief has been found!

Unfortunately, retrieving the stolen treasure will be no simple task. The beast towers over the two warriors, and its unnatural growth shows no sign of stopping. Conan has faced his share of monstrous horrors, but even the mighty Cimmerian must recognize the danger standing before them.

The gems are within reach, yet the creature wearing them grows more powerful with every passing moment. Can Conan and Dragonero bring down this raging monstrosity before it becomes too powerful to defeat? Or will the ancient ruins of Kuthchemes become the final resting place of two legendary warriors?

Only one thing is certain. Those gems aren’t going anywhere without a fight!

“Worlds Colliding – A History Of Conan Crossovers”

Jeffrey Shanks takes readers on a fascinating journey through the long and sometimes bizarre history of Conan the Barbarian crossover events. From an unauthorized magazine story to the numerous comic book publishers who found creative ways to shoehorn their proprietary characters into the Conan universe—and vice versa—Shanks leaves few stones unturned in this latest exposé on our favorite Cimmerian.

Over the decades, Conan has crossed swords with more than his fair share of unlikely companions and adversaries. Some of these encounters seem perfectly at home in Robert E. Howard’s Hyborian Age, while others stretch the imagination beyond anything the legendary pulp writer could have envisioned. But that’s part of the fun, isn’t it? When you have a character as enduring as Conan, the temptation to throw him into another fictional universe must be irresistible.

Shanks explores this curious corner of Conan’s publishing history, highlighting the strange partnerships, unexpected appearances, and occasional oddities that have followed the Barbarian from one publisher to another. It’s a wonderful reminder of just how far the Cimmerian has traveled beyond the pages of Weird Tales.

For longtime Conan readers and comic book historians alike, this is one interesting read. I thought I had a pretty good handle on the Barbarian’s publishing adventures, but apparently there are still a few surprises lurking in the shadows.

Wait a minute. Conan reached the Big Apple?!

By Crom! Now I’ve heard everything!

Review

Wow! I kinda saw this coming after issue four. I honestly wish Luca Enoch and Stefano Vietti had wrapped up this miniseries with the death of the ancient Dragon of Earth. That would have been a fitting conclusion to an otherwise entertaining crossover adventure. Instead, the story continues to drag its feet, and issue six has slowed to an absolute grind.

The dialogue has become little more than quick back-and-forth banter, punctuated by the occasional expletive. It’s not quite on the level of those frantic conversations from the 1960s Speed Racer cartoon, but we’re getting dangerously close. Our heroes bark a few words at one another, swing their swords, and move on to the next obstacle. Where is the meaningful character development? Where is the sense of urgency that made the earlier chapters so entertaining?

The Trip?

And do we really need all the monotonous details of our heroes’ journey from Kuthchemes to Tarantia? I enjoy a good Hyborian Age road trip as much as the next Conan fan, but there comes a point when traveling from one location to another becomes little more than filler. I guess somebody rolled either exceptionally high or exceptionally low on the old tabletop role-playing monster encounter table. Either way, the Dungeon Master seems determined to stretch this campaign out for another session!

It’s a shame, really. The series started with such promise, throwing two legendary fantasy warriors into an adventure filled with ancient dragons, dangerous sorcery, and unfamiliar worlds. Even the return to Conan’s Hyborian Age gave the story a welcome shot in the arm. Unfortunately, that momentum has all but disappeared. What should have been a thrilling march toward the finale now feels like an exercise in patience.

I remain a fan of Lorenzo Nuti’s artwork. His illustrations continue to capture the brutality and spectacle of sword-and-sorcery storytelling. However, even his impressive visuals aren’t enough to pull this issue out of the doldrums. A comic book needs more than pretty pictures to keep me invested, especially when we’re six issues into a seven-part adventure.

Hopefully, issue number seven delivers an extraordinary conclusion and gives Conan and Dragonero the send-off they deserve. I’m keeping my fingers crossed, but after this chapter, my expectations have taken a considerable beating.

I give Conan and Dragonero #6 a humble three out of five stars.