Free Comic Book Day 2026 - Conan: Tides Of The Tyrant-King

My Rating

“Prelude: Grim Tidings”

War seems imminent no matter the age into which we are born or the flag we choose to live under. Humanity never seems to escape the gruesome cycle of kill or be killed. Sometimes, however, an evil force pushes nations into conflicts beyond their understanding. For Conan of Cimmeria and Stephen Costigan of Texas, such a force reaches across two separate eras.

At the border of Zingara and Argos, Conan the mercenary cuts through the ranks of enemy soldiers with his bloodied sword. There, amid the carnage, a familiar dark energy begins to make itself known. The Cimmerian felt such dread in his youth near a black stone fortress. Then again when he looked upon a dark-eyed sigil. Whatever its source, this is a feeling he would sooner forget.

Across an ocean of time, an American G.I. feels that same dread in the trenches of France. Several years later, Stephen Costigan encounters it again in the cellar of a London temple. Different battlefields. Different centuries. The same sinister presence. What connects these two men to a force that refuses to remain buried in the past? In time, the answer will reveal itself.

“Robert E. Howard: Master Of Pulps”

In this edition, Jeffrey Shanks continues his deep dive into the life and mind of Robert E. Howard. Was Howard a traditional fantasy writer, or is that label a bit too narrow? How many genres did his writing touch? And where did the mysterious “Skull-Face” reside? There is more to Howard’s imagination than mighty barbarians and bloodstained swords. Fans looking to explore the other corners of his literary world will want to give this article a read.

Review

I almost forgot about this Free Comic Book Day introduction to Tides of the Tyrant-King. It was cataloged, tucked into a box, and nearly forgotten. Silly me. I assumed this comic book was just a preview of issue one. I’m glad I caught that error in my logic.

For those who want to read the entire miniseries, start here. The story is not a reprint. “Prelude: Grim Tidings” connects Conan and Stephen Costigan through a sinister force that reaches across time. What could possibly go wrong when the same evil has its fingers in two different eras? Probably nothing a sword and a good right hook can’t fix. Then again, this might take a little more effort.

Jeffrey Shanks rounds out the issue with another interesting look into the literary world of Robert E. Howard. I always appreciate these articles. There is plenty to discover beyond the adventures of our favorite Cimmerian.

My only complaint? The story is over just as it gets interesting. Yes, this is a free introduction meant to lure us into the full event, but I would have welcomed a few more pages. Consider the bait taken. I give this Free Comic Book Day edition a solid four out of five stars.