1737 ( )

An excellent story about barbarism, police authority, cronyism, corruption, and karma. ( )

This excellent series continues with the young Conan’s first encounters with “civilization.” Enemies are made, alliances are forged, and monsters are defeated with the requisite amount of sword swinging. Busiek and Nord weave some excellent character development in and around the action highlighting the young barbarian’s confusion, disdain, and inquisitiveness about city life and the opportunities it might offer him. ( )

I continue to enjoy this revival series from Black Horse. In this second volume, we still see a young Conan. Sure, he is quite the thief and very cunning, but he is still fairly inexperienced and learning fast. So, I find it interesting to find how Conan evolves over time. In this volume, he meets Janissa the Widowmaker, an assassin who works for the Bone Woman, and he makes a new enemy in Thoth Amon, the sorcerer. Conan enjoys life to the fullest, but he also has to rely on his cunning and smarts to overcome obstacles. From possibly being framed for a murder he did not commit to facing the dark sorcerer, Conan stands strong. If you like this character and his stories, you will enjoy this volume. It is clear the publisher takes good care of Howard's creation, and the art works very well with the series as well, capturing the environment nicely. Overall, very good work. I will continue reading this series. ( )

Revisited this as one part of the Conan Omnibus vol. 1 ( )